USDA delays fish and shellfish origin labeling deadline

USDA delays fish and shellfish origin labeling deadline The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has delayed the conclusion of its origin-labeling rule comment deadline for fish and shellfish until Feb. 2.
   The agency said it made the change at the request of various industry trade associations.
   On Oct. 5, 2004, the USDA published an interim final rule to implement the mandatory country of origin labeling program for fish and shellfish as ordered by the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act.
   The fiscal 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act delayed the application of the mandatory origin labeling for fresh produce and meats covered under the regulation, except for wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish, until Sept. 30, 2006.
   For more information, contact William Sessions, associate deputy administrator for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Livestock and Seed Program, at (202) 720-5707, or by e-mail at william.sessions@usda.gov.