U.S. Court of Appeals Denies COOL Injunction

In the ongoing saga of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, last week a U.S. Court of Appeals judge denied a preliminary injunction on the implementation against enforcing COOL regulations.

And depending on which view you take — there is either cheering or gnashing of teeth with the verdict.

Those who applaud the denial are the U.S. Cattlemen's , National Farmers Union, American Sheep Industry Association. They feel that COOL is the right direction for the independent livestock producers in the U.S. as well as for consumers to know where their meat comes from.

Greg Martin has more from the other side of the issue which had requested overturning of the COOL regulation.

Martin: "From the American Meat Institute, National Pork Producers, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Canadian Cattlemen's Association and Canadian Pork Council as well as several other livestock industry stakeholders' perspectives — COOL requires onerous new labeling which they say exceeds the regulators' responsibility, violates free speech and are of no real value to the consumer. For example, the new labeling expands specific identification for the country of origin for each piece of the production process — so born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. They argue that this legislation increases productions costs as now muscle cuts of meat have to be segregated according to where animals are born, raised and slaughtered."

Thanks, Greg. The World Trade Organization has received objections of COOL from both Canada and Mexico and a ruling from the WTO is expected in June.