Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
Now Available!
On September 15, 2008, AFFI held a Webinar to address revised USDA country of origin labeling requirements for frozen fruits and vegetables. The 90-minute Webinar features presentations from a four-member panel with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Hogan & Hartson LLP, AFFI’s legal counsel. Following 60 minutes of presentations reviewing COOL requirements as prescribed under U.S. Customs and USDA rules, the panel of experts then responds to the specific questions of Webinar participants.
The recorded COOL Webinar is available for purchase for $50.
Please click here to purchase an AFFI Country of Origin Labeling Webinar CD.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts
USDA Takes on Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling
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Under the Tariff Act of 1930, frozen products are required to be labeled for foreign content. Subsequent to the 2002 Farm Bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued voluntary country of origin labeling (COOL) guidelines for meat (beef, pork and lamb), fish, shellfish, peanuts, and produce, including frozen produce. The Department of Agriculture’s action responded to legislation requiring such voluntary guidelines and also requiring USDA to issue mandatory country of origin labeling regulations by September 30, 2004. The legislation was enacted as part of that year’s Farm Bill (formally known as the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002). In 2003, Congress postponed implementation of mandatory COOL for everything but fish and seafood until 2008.
In 2004, USDA published an interim final rule for the mandatory country of origin labeling of fish and shellfish. Effective April 4, 2005, this rule required that certain covered seafood commodities be labeled at retail to indicate their country of origin and their method of production (wild and/or farm-raised). As required by law, certain processed seafood products, as well as seafood products served at food service establishments, remained exempt from these requirements.
In August 2007, USDA reopened the comment period for COOL for both the Interim Final Rule for fish and shellfish and the Proposed Rule for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. With regard to the latter rule, USDA proposed to finalize it by applying the concepts used in the seafood rule to the remaining COOL commodities.
The 2002 Farm Bill and the 2008 Farm Bill amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require that retailers inform consumers of the country of origin of all perishable agricultural commodities beginning September 30, 2008. Recently, USDA published regulations implementing the COOL requirement. At the same time, the marking requirements contained in Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 continue to be enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Attention AFFI members: Be sure to log in for additional information!
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AFFI MEMBERS-ONLY INFORMATION
RE: Canada Files Complaint Against COOL
RE: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for Perishable Agricultural Commodities – Comparison of USDA and CBP Rules
RE: Proposed Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling
RE: Recent USDA and Congressional Actions regarding Country of Origin Labeling
RE: Country of Origin Labeling Refresher
RE: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish
RE: Seafood Country of Origin Labeling Rule
RE: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts
RE: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts
RE: COOL Regulations under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
RE: "Bill of Unintended Consequences: How a New Country of Origin Marking Regulation Would Harm American Food and Agriculture"
RE: USDA Guidelines Implementing COOL Provisions in the 2002 Farm Bill
RE: Country of Origin Labeling
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