Farm-Scape is sponsored by Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork Play Audio Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1291

The US based National Pork Producers Council says the wave of opposition to mandatory Country of Origin Labelling is building but the fight is still far from over.

Last week the US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved an amendment that would prohibit the use of 2004 funding to implement mandatory Country of Origin Labelling. If finalized the amendment would mean a one year delay in implementation of the mandatory component.

NPPC Communications Director Kara Flynn says the amendment must still go to the house floor then on to the senate but the growing opposition to mandatory labelling demonstrates the level of concern.

"The die has been cast.

The hearing last week that the house agriculture committee held with the many different opinions that were stated would indicate that there is a sense in the air that their is support for repealing country of origin Labelling.

However questions still remain as to if that is going to happen. Many groups have indicated that they are not satisfied that this is a workable law as it now stands.

We now have on record folks in the administration and the Chairman of the house Ag committee also on record as saying this law does not seem to be workable as it is currently written. There is definitely a sense in the air that country of origin Labelling is headed toward a repeal.

However there are still people that consider this to be a very good thing and are going to continue to fight for their cause".

Flynn says the National Pork Producers Council believes further review of the labelling issue is needed and it welcomes the prospects of a one year delay.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.