The Senate added chicken to its version of the country-of-origin labeling provision in the 2007 farm bill passed late Friday, even though nearly all chicken consumed in the United States is grown domestically.
"Chicken meat will be treated no differently than other cuts of meat under the law now," Majority Communications Director for the Senate Agriculture Committee Kate Cyrul told Meatingplace.com. The legislative language says "whole chicken, or in part."
The National Chicken Council did not oppose the amendment, spokesman Richard Lobb told Meatingplace.com. "It's getting to the point that there will be some poultry imported," he said, noting the recently signed free trade agreement allows Chile to export chicken to the United States. "And there are a number of other countries in the queue that sooner or later will get authorization."
Currently, "about 99.9 percent" of all chicken consumed in the United States is produced domestically. But with red meat COOL labeling on the horizon, Lobb said consumers might start wondering where the chicken they purchase came from.
In terms of what type of chicken meat might be imported, Lobb said it remained to be seen, but speculated frozen breast filets for further processed product might be possibilities.
The farm bill now goes to a House and Senate conference committee, where the two versions of the bill must be reconciled. (See Senate passes farm bill, moves to conference under veto threat on Meatingplace.com, Dec. 17, 2007.)
Source: Janie Gabbett, on 12/17/2007 for Meatingplace.com