A story dated July 9 by Tri-State Livestock News describes the reaction of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to an executive order committing $500 million to expanding processing capacity in the beef industry.
The order was intended to promote competition in the American economy and directs the USDA to consider issuing new rules defining the “Product of the USA” label on beef so consumers have accurate, transparent information at the grocery store.
The term ‘rulemaking’ appears 21 times in the order.
In Sec. 5. (i) (ii), the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider initiating a rulemaking to define the conditions under which the labeling of meat products can bear voluntary statements indicating that the product is of United States origin, such as “Product of USA,” to ensure that consumers have accurate, transparent labels that enable them to choose products made in the United States.
The issue is not the labels. As an aside, do you think producers of range-fed beef would welcome labels like this?
RANGE FED
PRODUCED ON PUBLIC LANDS
Ensuring that consumers have accurate information is the last thing on their minds.
The concern is the rulemaking. The new rules will be created by the unelected bureaucracy, not your elected representatives.
They may be tied to a statute, or have the appearance of such, but you have no voice in the process.
Look at the rules affecting wild horses and burros. Do they uphold the statute—which was crafted by your representatives—or contradict it?
So much for consent of the governed.
Western Horse Watchers Association 