COOL Final Rule Moves Forward, but with Caveats from USDA’s Vilsack

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a letter to the U.S. meat industry indicating that the final rule implementing country-of-origin labeling (COOL) will take effect as scheduled March 16. This ends speculation that the rule may be suspended and reopened for further public comment. However, Vilsack raised several concerns about the regulation – specifically with regard to labeling products with multiple countries of origin, voluntarily labeling smoked and cured products that may have fallen under the exemption for processed foods, and shortening the time allowance for using ground meat labels that may no longer reflect a company’s current inventory.

Vilsack is calling for voluntary industry compliance with these additional recommendations. He says USDA will monitor compliance with these issues before deciding whether to officially modify the labeling regulations. Read the full text of Vilsack’s letter online.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a letter to the U.S. meat industry indicating that the final rule implementing country-of-origin labeling (COOL) will take effect as scheduled March 16. This ends speculation that the rule may be suspended and reopened for further public comment. However, Vilsack raised several concerns about the regulation – specifically with regard to labeling products with multiple countries of origin, voluntarily labeling smoked and cured products that may have fallen under the exemption for processed foods, and shortening the time allowance for using ground meat labels that may no longer reflect a company’s current inventory.

Vilsack is calling for voluntary industry compliance with these additional recommendations. He says USDA will monitor compliance with these issues before deciding whether to officially modify the labeling regulations. Read the full text of Vilsack’s letter online.