Overview

Country of origin labeling (COOL) was included in the 2002 Farm Bill. It would require labeling for beef, veal, lamb, pork, farm-raised and wild fish, shellfish, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and peanuts that states the country of origin. With the exception of farm-raised and wild fish and shellfish, implementation of this mandatory measure was delayed until Sept. 30, 2008. It will be implemented by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. In the case of imported products, the food label will have to indicate where it started, was grown/raised and processed. For example, a meat label for pork might read, “From hogs born in Canada, raised and slaughtered in the United States.”

Members of the Food Industry Trade Coalition want the labeling program to be voluntary. The coalition indicates mandatory labeling will increase costs and require more verification and paperwork. COOL opponents also say consumers are not requesting the labeling.


Source

Country of Origin Labeling , Agricultural Marketing Service.

Country of Origin Labeling, Food Industry Trade Coalition.

Other Links

• Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), Ag Marketing Service, USDA - On Nov. 10, 2005, President Bush signed Public Law 109-97, which delays the implementation of COOL for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until Sept. 30, 2008. This site includes background information, resources and federal register rulemaking.
• Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), Economic Research Service, USDA - The USDA reports food suppliers can voluntarily label products with country of origin. This page links to a 2004 ERS report on the issue.
• Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL), Food Industry Trade Coalition - This site was established in 2003 to provide information and answer questions regarding COOL.
• Country-of-Origin Labeling Current Status and Recent Developments, Food Marketing Institute.
• Mandatory Country-Of-Origin Labeling. Will it Benefit Consumers? Amber Waves magazine, 2007.

Links checked July 2008.