USDA to Pursue Stricter COOL Regulations
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this week canceled a scheduled press conference on mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulations, but reportedly told meat industry representatives that USDA intends to pursue stricter COOL guidelines than those approved during the Bush administration.
Vilsack has asked meat providers to voluntarily adhere to more stringent standards, noting that the agency will act in the absence of industry direction. In particular, USDA is seeking to extend COOL to some “processed” items, like cured bacon, that are currently exempt from labeling requirements. Vilsack also received a letter from seven U.S. senators asking him to further clarify and restrict the use of multiple country labeling. “These loopholes essentially allow processors to label every product – including exclusively U.S. products and entirely foreign products – under the multiple country category,” stated the letter spearheaded by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.).
The announcement followed an administrative hold issued by the Obama administration for the review of all new or pending legislation. Slated to take effect March 16, 2009, COOL regulations have strained trade negotiations with Mexico and Canada, which have opposed the measure as unnecessarily protectionist. Although large meat processors and retailers have also criticized COOL as cumbersome, consumer organizations and northern state ranchers in competition with Canada have welcomed the possibility of stricter rules. “The bottom line is we think people have a right to know and they can act on it based on their own opinions and preferences,” a Food and Water Watch spokesperson was quoted as saying. See Meatingplace.com, February 6, 2009; Meatingplace.com and The Associated Press, February 18, 2009.
