129 



Page 5. 



Notwithstanding the provisions of 19 U.S.C. § 1304(a)(3)(J), 

 imported fresh cut flowers shall be marked with the English name 

 of the country of origin by means of tagging the stems if imported 

 without sleeving or packaging, or by means of printed sleeving or 

 other packaging if imported with sleeving or packaging. 



IV. CONCLUSION 



The Floral Trade Council requests two amendments to H.R. 2927 which (1) 

 direct the U.S. Trade Representative to issue a report reviewing protection of U.S. breeders' 

 rights in fresh cut flower exporting countries and a comparative study of royalty payments 

 made by U.S. and foreign growers/exporters of fresh cut flowers, and (2) require country of 

 origin marking on imported fresh cut flowers. Both amendments would protect the rights 

 of U.S. breeders as well as enable fresh cut flower growers to compete with lower-priced 

 imported flowers on a more level playing field. For these reasons, the Floral Trade Council 

 would welcome the opportunity to work jointly with Committee members and the 

 Administration to determine the feasibility of these amendments. 



Respectfully submitted, 



FLORAL TRADE COUNCIL 



Timothy J. Haley, President 



William Carlson, Jr., Executive Director 



erence P. Stewart 

 James R. Cannon, Jr. 

 Amy S. Dwyer 

 STEWART AND STEWART 

 808 Seventeenth Street, N.W. 

 Washington, DC 20006 

 Telephone: (202) 785-4185 



Special Counsel to the 

 Floral Trade Council 



