Senate votes to delay meat origin labeling until 2008
The U.S. Senate passed agricultural appropriations legislation Thursday that delays the implementation of a mandatory meat origin-labeling rule until 2008.
Senators passed the appropriations bill by a vote of 81-18.
The House passed a similar measure in its agriculture appropriation bill on Oct. 28.
The 2002 farm bill required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement origin labeling for meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and peanuts. Money to implement the program, especially for meat products, has been repeatedly blocked.