USDA reopens comment period on mandatory COOL

On June 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Federal Register notice announcing it will reopen the comment period for the proposed rule on mandatory country-of-origin labeling of beef, lamb, pork, fruits/veggies and peanuts; and the interim final rule for mandatory country-of-origin labeling on seafood.

In early June, the chairman and ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture committee sent a letter to various parties with an interest in country-of-origin labeling and encouraged the groups to come together to find a “solution” to country-of-origin labeling.

The letter was an official request of participation in a stakeholder process to address country-of-origin labeling. In part the letter reads “We believe we have an opportunity to refine the law to address the concerns of U.S. consumers, producers, and processors.”

“We finally have another opportunity to make sure these rules are written right,” said Mabel Dobbs WORC Livestock Committee Chair. “However, we have to make a concerted effort to ensure our views are heard at USDA.”

WORC is calling on all of its members and allies to make comment to this federal register notice before August 20, 2007.
“The message is clear,” said Dobbs. “Remind USDA of your support for mandatory country of origin labeling as passed in the 2002 Farm Bill.”
–Jeri Lynn Bakken