House bill would stall meat origin labeling

House bill would stall meat origin labeling    The House of Representatives passed a bill Friday that would delay the implementation of mandatory meat country of origin labeling until 2008.
   The House passed the bill (H.R. 2744 or the 2006 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act) on Oct. 28 by a 318-63 vote. The Senate must still vote on the bill, which is expected this week.
   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 has been repeatedly blocked.
   H.R. 2744 would also continue a U.S. ban on imports of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. In addition, the bill would offer the government’s largest food aid program, P.L. 480 Title II program or Food for Peace, $1.2 billion, and $9 million for programs to prevent and detect the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow” disease.