“Country Of Origin Labeling” (COOL) goes into effect today, expanding a labeling program from the 2002 Farm Bill, in response to concerns about contaminated food being imported into the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, consumer groups and some farmers pushed for the adoption of the new rules, which for now are voluntary:
“I strongly support Country of Origin Labeling – it’s a critical step toward providing consumers with additional information about the origin of their food,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
A Department of Agriculture press release details the categories of foods that will require labels identifying the origin:
“…muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng…”
The new rules are not popular in Canada, where they are seen as a barrier to trade that may hurt Canada’s livestock industry. Domestic critics point out that the new rules allow for some products to be labeled “multiple country” or “mixed origin,” which could be used to disguise the origin of certain items. Secretary Vilsack has stated that the Department of Agriculture will need to monitor the new rules to determine their impact and the degree of compliance.
