Montana's meat label law illegal, group says
MONTANA - As the fight continues in Congress over mandatory meat labels, one also may be brewing in Montana over the state's labeling law.The American Meat Institute, a meatpackers' trade group, contends federal law — namely, the federal Meat Inspection Act — prohibits the state from requiring country of origin meat labels.
‘‘No state may impose a labeling requirement that is different than or in addition to what's allowed under federal law,'' Mark Dopp, AMI senior vice president for regulatory affairs and general counsel, said in a recent interview.
The Montana law, set to take effect next year, requires placards denoting the country of origin of beef, lamb, pork and poultry products sold at grocery stores and other retails outlets. Products whose origin is not known would be labeled as such.
State Agriculture Director Nancy K. Peterson said the law is considered a ‘‘catch all'' that would be in effect if the federal labeling requirement stalls but would be void if the national plan took effect.
Source: HelenAir.com
20 June 2005
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