Country of Origin Labeling, also known as COOL. A little known sector of the Farm Bill, which has high favor in the eyes of most consumers, but is highly disliked by livestock producers. What is COOL?
“Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is a labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets and club warehouse stores, to notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. Food products covered by the law include muscle cut and ground meats: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng.” (Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), Web.)
In conclusion, Country of Origin Labeling, went through congress again on May 29, 2015, and the vote repealed requirements of COOL for beef, pork, and chicken. Although it is no longer required for these producers to provide the detailed documents, many producers will still continue to provide the origins of their products. Many companies are being established that are not part of the Farm Bill, and will give consumers the information they want to know.
“Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is a labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets and club warehouse stores, to notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. Food products covered by the law include muscle cut and ground meats: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng.” (Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), Web.)
COOL is found under the “Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946,” found in subtitle “D” of the U.S. Farm Bill. The bill for COOL, was passed on May 1, 2002. Regulations specified were issued September 30, 2002 and was supposed to go into effect for all commodities specified by September 30, 2004. (Agricultural Marketing Act, Subtitle D) What the purpose of the two year delay was supposed to do, was to allow the government to apply all regulations of COOL, to their entirety by 2004. What the government was trying to accomplish in those two years was requiring all producers of specified COOL commodities, to have detailed records and knowledge of where their products had been grown, raised, processed, and harvested.
What ended up happening was that companies, and small operations were having a hard time meeting all the requirements the government had issued. Because of this, the Farm Bill was once again amended in 2004, to allow all commodities under the act, besides fish and shellfish, to have until September 30, 2008, to meet all requirements.
Yet again another problem arose, Mexico, and Canada, took the new requirements of COOL, to the World Trade Organization or WTO. The main problems Mexico and Canada, had with COOL, is that they felt it caused discrimination to the products sold to the USA, by their countries. WTO, sided against the US in this instance and COOL, was once again amended in 2013.
Yet again, the new regulations of COOL, caused problems primarily with livestock producers. ‘“National Cattlemens’ Beef Association president Scott George said in a teleconference that COOL – which requires labels on meat indicating where the originating animal was born, raised and slaughtered – creates a multitude of problems for livestock producers. The most significant, George said, “is the threat of trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico.”’ (Farm Futures, Web.)
What ended up happening was that companies, and small operations were having a hard time meeting all the requirements the government had issued. Because of this, the Farm Bill was once again amended in 2004, to allow all commodities under the act, besides fish and shellfish, to have until September 30, 2008, to meet all requirements.
Yet again another problem arose, Mexico, and Canada, took the new requirements of COOL, to the World Trade Organization or WTO. The main problems Mexico and Canada, had with COOL, is that they felt it caused discrimination to the products sold to the USA, by their countries. WTO, sided against the US in this instance and COOL, was once again amended in 2013.
Yet again, the new regulations of COOL, caused problems primarily with livestock producers. ‘“National Cattlemens’ Beef Association president Scott George said in a teleconference that COOL – which requires labels on meat indicating where the originating animal was born, raised and slaughtered – creates a multitude of problems for livestock producers. The most significant, George said, “is the threat of trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico.”’ (Farm Futures, Web.)
"Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)." Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).
Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
"Country of Origin Labeling Creates Sticky Situation
for Livestock Interests." -
Farm Futures. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
"H.R.2393 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Country of
Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015." H.R.2393.
Web. 26 Oct. 2015.