Country of Origin Labeling

Country of Origin Labeling
Packers & Marketers

News

FMI survey finds most producers support COOL but want law changed, Rod Smith,Feedstuffs, October 20, 2003 - "Although most producers support the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law, almost two-thirds do not support the current COOL law and want Congress to amend or repeal it before it becomes effective next year, according to a new poll that was commissioned by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and released last week."

Meat Products That Bear Ingredient Statements Should Not Be Forced to Bear Country-of-Origin Labels, AMI Says, April 10, 2003 - “USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) should modify draft country-of-origin labeling guidelines so that meat products that must bear ingredient statements do not also need to bear country-of-origin labels, AMI said today in comments to AMS.”

IBP Letter to Producers - March 2003

Estimated Costs Associated with Country of Origin Labelilng Program, Letter to USDA, February 21, 2003 - “As discussed more fully below, we believe that USDA’s estimate -- which only appears to consider some of the labor costs involved in establishing and maintaining a recordkeeping system – has substantially underestimated the information collection costs that will actually be associated with USDA’s country of origin labeling (COL) program for the retail community, and probably for the remainder of the supply chain as well.”

Hormel Publicizes Policies for COOL Compliance, Pork news source, February 4, 2003 - "Hormel Foods became among the first pork processors to notify producers supplying them with hogs of the new requirements that will be implemented when country of origin labeling becomes mandatory."

Labeling Law Should Be Reconsidered, Tyson Chairman Says; Unintended Consequences Will Hurt American Agriculture, PR Newswire, December 04, 2002 - "Speaking today before the Farm Journal Forum in Washington, DC, Tyson warned of the unintended consequences and costs triggered by the new law. 'Since this law will only harm the people it was purportedly designed to help, we strongly encourage our Congressional representatives to take another look at this issue,' Tyson told the Forum"

Producers, politicians likely will find COOL to be one very onerous, troubling 'miscalculation', Rod Smith, Feedstuffs, December 2, 2002 - "After talking with packer/processor and retailer representatives, it's obvious that few plants or stores will participate in country-of-origin labeling (COOL) during the voluntary period underway now."

COOL will create 'U.N.' products as labels list countries of origin, Rod Smith, Feedstuffs, December 2, 2002 - "At the American Meat Institute (AMI) here, senior vice president for regulatory affairs and general counsel Mark D. Dopp said country-of-origin labeling (COOL) is one of those unimaginable issues "you hope will go away" but won't without congressional intervention."

COOL may change marketplace for the worst, Rod Smith, Feedstuffs, December 2, 2002 - "At the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) here, senior vice president for government and public affairs John J. Motley III said although his organization is not prepared to recommend that member retailers and supermarkets voluntarily participate in country-of-origin labeling (COOL) because of the costs and liabilities to which they need not be exposed at this time, it will work to make the program more effective and efficient when it becomes mandatory in 2004."

Country of Origin Labeling Program: Quick Sheet - A brief bullet-list review of the COOL law, suggestions for retailers’ requests of their suppliers, and implementation strategies.