House passes bill delaying origin labeling for meats, produce

House passes bill delaying origin labeling for meats, produce    The House passed an $820 billion omnibus spending bill Monday that included a provision to delay the mandatory implementation of origin labeling for fresh meats and produce until Sept. 30, 2006, or fiscal year 2007.
   Congressional leaders agreed in a conference report Nov. 25 to delay the implementation of mandatory origin labeling for meats and produce, excluding fish.
   The House passed the omnibus bill by a 242-176 vote. The Senate is expected to approve the legislation by late December or early January.
   The 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act mandates the U.S. Department of Agriculture to impose origin labeling regulations for beef, lamb, pork, fish, shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts by Oct. 1.
   Produce and meat producers, who generally support the origin labeling law, warned lawmakers in recent testimony about the cost and disruption to their businesses to meet the mandate.
   Also contained in the House version of the omnibus spending bill is $63.3 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Of that, $1.3 billion is for the Food for Peace program, $785 million for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and $726 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.