USDA Issues Final COOL Rule

Yesterday USDA issued a final rule to modify the labeling provisions covered under the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program.

The final rule modifies the labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities to require the origin designations to include information about where each of the production steps (that is born, raised, slaughtered) occurred and removes the allowance for commingling of muscle cuts.

This ruling was met with mixed reactions the National Farmers Union has applauded the USDA’s decision.

Both the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as well as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association vehemently disagree with the ruling. The CCA new releases states that the regulatory change issued by USDA actually “increases the discriminatory impact of Country of Origin Labeling.”

NCBA is concerned about how our two largest trading partners might retaliate against U.S. beef as NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall explains.

Woodall: “Because right now Canada and Mexico are two of our largest markets for the export of U.S. beef. We know that exports as a whole count for $225 per marketed animal so a good chunk of that is tied up with our access into Canada and Mexico. If that is restricted or we have tariffs on put on top of that, then yes that will have a direct impact on the price we will see paid for cattle.”