FWD: Mike, please send this to action lists

[MDOLAN <mdolan@citizen.org>]

   Message from Ben FinzelAmerican Alliance for Honest Labeling
  http://www.honestlabeling
  
   Members of the AAHL include the International Brotherhood of
       Teamsters, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the
       National Farmers Union (and their chapters in 20 states) and the
  National
       Farmers Organization.
  
       Support American Consumers, Protect Right-to-Know and Honest Food
       Labeling!
  
       I am writing to request your assistance in making your voice heard in
       Washington on a matter of importance to American consumers, American
       workers and American farmers: country of origin labeling for imported
       produce.
  
       On August 18, 1997, the United States Customs Service reopened the
       comment period on a regulation which would require the country of
       origin label to be placed on the front panel of all imported frozen
       produce packages.  On behalf of the American Alliance for Honest
       Labeling (AAHL), I respectfully request that you and your organization
       send a letter to the Customs Service to express your support for this
       proposal (RIN 1515-AB61) before the public comment period closes on
       October 17, 1997.
  
       The American Alliance for Honest Labeling is a national grassroots
       coalition representing more than 2.4 million growers, processors,
       consumers and workers who support front panel labeling for imported
       frozen produce.  Since our formation in January 1997, the AAHL has
       worked to gain support for this Customs Service proposal to require
       such labeling.
  
       Members of the AAHL include the International Brotherhood of
       Teamsters, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the
       National Farmers Union (and their chapters in 20 states), the National
       Farmers Organization, the National Peanut Growers Group (and their
       chapters/members in 9 states) and numerous state agriculture groups in
       states across the country (including Alabama, Arkansas, California,
       Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, Rhode
       Island, Tennessee, etc.).  In total, we have members in nearly 40
       states of the union from many walks of life.
  
       79 Members of Congress (including Dick Gephardt, Tom Daschle, Richard
       Shelby, Barbara Boxer, Marcy Kaptur, David Bonior, Duncan Hunter, Mark
       Foley, Sam Farr, Bill Frist, Ron Dellums, George Miller, John Lewis,
       Lane Evans, Tony Hall and others from both sides of the aisle) and
       Director of the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs Leslie Byrne have
       written or signed letters in support of front panel labeling of
       country of origin for frozen produce.
  
       Although current law (based on the Tariff Act of 1930) requires
       imported country of origin labeling, the law is routinely ignored by
       the industry. The resulting noncompliance means that consumers have no
       idea where the frozen produce they buy to feed their families comes
       from.  As a result, millions of American consumers are left in the
       dark as to the origins of their food.  We believe that Americans have
       a right to know such important product information.
  
       Despite the requirements of current law, in many instances such
       labeling is nonexistent or difficult to read or find on frozen produce
       packages.  In fact, two frozen produce companies, Dean Foods (which
       markets the Birds Eye brand) and Southern Foods (which markets the
       Southern Farms and McKenzie brands) have been found, in a preliminary
       investigation based on a complaint filed by the AAHL, to be in
       violation of the current country of origin labeling law.  These two
       cases have been turned over to the enforcement division of the Customs
       Service for action.
  
       The Customs Service proposal will establish a clear standard of
       compliance that will help level the playing field for American farmers
       by ensuring that important foreign country of origin labeling is
       included on frozen produce products sold in this country as it is on
       frozen produce products sold in other countries.
  
       Most of our major trading partners, including Canada, Japan, Australia
       and many European nations, require country of origin labeling for
       imported produce, including produce coming from the U.S.  This
       proposal will harmonize our labeling policies and put our farmers and
       consumers on equal footing with our trading partners.  In addition,
       surveys have shown that country of origin information can also promote
       our domestic produce markets as the labeling does for other countries.
       The Court of International Trade has ruled that "conspicuous" labeling
       should mean front panel labeling.
  
       Our goal is to see this proposed regulation is enacted; however, in
       order to do so, we must continue working to generate as many
       supportive letters as possible.  We look to you, as an advocate of
       free and fair trade and the rights of American consumers, to express
       to Customs the positive impact this would have on American consumers,
       workers and farmers and on the American economy.
  
       Comments should be sent by October 17, 1997 (in triplicate, if
       possible) to the following address:
  
       Regulations Branch
       Office of Regulations and Rulings
       U.S. Customs Service
       Franklin Court
       1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
       Washington, D.C. 20229
  
       Please reference the proposal number (RIN 1515-AB61) in your letter.
  
       We would be happy to provide you with draft language to use in draftinÿ
  g
       your own letter to the Customs Service and can also help with the arms
       and legs necessary to make phone calls to mobilize grassroots support.ÿ
  
       Please let us know what we can do to help you.  You may also visit our
       World Wide Web site online at www.honestlabeling.org.  The website
       provides complete information on the Customs proposal and the
       activities of the AAHL.  Please feel free to call me (202-326-1750) or
       Kerry Patzke (202-326-1776) with any questions or comments.
  
       We also request that you forward this e-mail on to any other
       organizations or individuals who you feel might be interested in this
       subject.  We need all the help that we can get; the more letters we arÿ
  e
       able to generate by October 17, the better our chances of securing
       enactment of this regulation.  Thank you very much for your assistance
       and support.
  
       Sincerely,
  
       Ben Finzel
       for the American Alliance for Honest Labeling
  ===== Comments by MDOLAN@CITIZEN (MDOLAN) at 9/27/97 1:03 pm