_____________ resolution NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A resolution of the House of Representatives of the state of montana urging the united states congress to implement country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork products.

WHEREAS, in 2002, the United States Congress amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require that retailers notify customers who are purchasing covered commodities, including beef and pork, of the commodities' origin, by means of a "Country-of-Origin Label"; and

WHEREAS, in May 2015, based on complaints from Canada and Mexico, the World Trade Organization determined that country-of-origin labels violated United States trade obligations and threatened to impose retaliatory duties unless the United States removed the requirement that covered commodities, including beef and pork, be sold with a country-of-origin label; and

WHEREAS, in December 2015, Congress removed mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for muscle-cut beef and pork and for ground beef and pork; and

WHEREAS, consumers want to know the origin of their food, and the United States and Montana producers want consumers to know the origin of their food.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the House of Representatives of the 68th Montana Legislature urges Congress to pass a mandatory federal country-of-origin labeling law for beef and pork products that meets World Trade Organization requirements.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send copies of this resolution to each member of the Montana Congressional Delegation, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.