On May 13, 2002 President Bush signed into law the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, otherwise known as the 2002 Farm Bill. One of the more controversial parts of this bill is the "country-of-origin labeling" component. It requires country-of-origin labeling at the retail outlet for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts. While labeling laws have been in place for years, these new laws have stricter rules for determining United States country of origin status. In previous laws beef, for example, could be imported and labeled from the United States after only minimal processing such as cutting it into smaller pieces, or grinding it into hamburger. According to rules in the 2002 Farm Bill, beef can only be labeled with a United States country-of-origin label if it is from an animal that is exclusively born, raised and slaughtered in the United States (including from an animal exclusively born and raised in Alaska or Hawaii and transported for a period not to exceed 60 days through Canada to the United States and slaughtered in the United States). More importantly for fish farmers, the 2002 Farm Bill's country-of-origin labeling rules specifically list "farm-raised fish" and "wild fish" as covered commodities. That farm-raised fish are even mentioned in the 2002 Farm Bill is a testament to the political awareness and the political clout of the larger aquaculture associations in our industry such as the Catfish Farmers of America. The term "farm-raised fish" includes farm-raised fish and shellfish. By the new rules farm-raised fish may be listed as having a United States country-of-origin only if hatched, raised, and processed in the United States. The term "wild fish" refers to naturally-born or hatchery-raised fish or shellfish harvested in the wild and excludes fish grown in net-pens or other farm-raised fish. To be labeled United States country-of-origin, wild fish must be harvested in waters of the United States, a territory of the United States, or a state. Wild fish must also be processed in the United States, a territory of the United States, or a state, including the waters thereof. The country-of-origin label for wild fish and farm-raised fish must distinguish between wild-caught fish and farm-raised fish. The 2002 Farm Bill takes affect on September 30th, 2002. However, mandatory labeling provisions do not take affect until September 30, 2004. Labeling will be voluntary until that time. Surveys show that consumers at the retail level favor country-of-origin labeling. Nonetheless, many state and national organizations lobbied for and against this bill in Washington, D. C. State and national farming organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation, Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas, and Florida Farmers, Inc. supported country-of-origin labeling. Food processing or retailing groups like the Food Industry Trade Coalition and Grocery Manufacturers of America were against the new labeling requirements. Proponents of the country-of-origin labeling believe it will provide U. S farm-raised products with a competitive advantage. They believe that American consumers will buy U.S. farm-raised products when given the choice. They believe that consumers want to know, and have a right to know the origin of their food. Proponents claim that the retailer's cost to comply with the new laws is minimal. They cite Florida's markets as an example where strong produce labeling laws have been in place for years. Opponents of the country-of-origin laws view them as protectionist trade barriers deliberately intended to increase costs for importers and to foster the unfounded perception that foreign products are inherently less safe (or of lower quality) than US. products. They contend that such labeling does not increase public health protection.