U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle's defeat in last week's election gives the food industry new hope that a voluntary country-of-origin labeling program could take the place of the mandatory program

Food & Drink Weekly, Nov 8, 2004

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle's defeat in last week's election gives the food industry new hope that a voluntary country-of-origin labeling program could take the place of the mandatory program. Daschle was "the most powerful opponent of voluntary COOL, so it certainly would help the effort," said Tim Hammonds, president and chief executive officer of Food Marketing Institute here.

"In a broader context, Daschle was a leading opponent of anything the administration or the Republican Congress chose to put forward as part of the strategy to run in this election. I think his defeat sends a message that that was not an effective strategy." FMI threw its support behind Daschle's opponent, GOP Rep. John Thune, who won the election. Hammonds said he's hopeful the labeling rules can be "renegotiated" before the first phase of the mandatory labeling rule, applying to seafood products sold at supermarkets, takes effect in April 2005.