La Organización Mundial del Comercio oculta información sustanciosa

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A World Trade Organization tribunal ruled today that the U.S. law requiring country-of-origin labeling for meat violates international trade law, essentially denying Americans the right to know where their meat comes from. The United States is likely to appeal, but the WTO Appellate Body has in the past consistently ruled against U.S. food safety and product labeling measures.

Todo esto ocurre en el contexto de la probable consideración por parte del Congreso de una legislación de promoción comercial de vía rápida. Esta vía rápida facilitaría la aprobación por parte del Congreso de los acuerdos comerciales de la Asociación Transpacífica y la Asociación Transatlántica para el Comercio y la Inversión, actualmente en negociación. Ambos acuerdos socavarían la autoridad regulatoria del gobierno para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria y que los consumidores puedan tomar decisiones informadas sobre qué productos comprar. Al igual que la OMC, impondrían restricciones a la seguridad alimentaria, el etiquetado y otras salvaguardias ambientales y sanitarias.

Kari Hamerschlag, Senior program manager for Friends of the Earth’s Food and technology program, made the following comment:

This latest World Trade Organization ruling against country-of-origin labeling for meat directly counters the growing American desire for transparency about their food. The ruling powerfully evidences how international trade deals like the Trans Atlantic and Trans Pacific agreements will undermine food safety, product labeling standards and a wide range of other safeguards. The United States should appeal the WTO tribunal decision and take food safety and labeling measures off the table in the Pacific and Atlantic trade negotiations.

To prevent future similar abuses of the consumer public, Congress must reject any legislation providing for Fast Track approval of such deals. Fast Track would force quick up or down votes on these trade agreements, without the possibility of making congressional amendments to preserve food safety, labeling and other common sense public health and environmental measures.

The WTO tribunal ruled that revisions to U.S. country of origin labeling safeguards made in May 2013 did not conform to a 2012 WTO appellate ruling against the original U.S. law on country-of-origin labeling. While the U.S. can appeal it, this most recent tribunal decision follows in a train of  successful WTO challenges in similar cases related to dolphin-safe tuna labeling and sale of clove and candy flavored cigarettes.

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Expert Trade Contact: Bill Waren, Senior trade analyst, (202) 222-0746, [email protected]

Expert Food Contact: Kari Hamerschlag,  Senior program manager, Food and technology program, (510) 978-4420, [email protected]

Contacto de comunicaciones: Kate Colwell, especialista en comunicaciones, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]