Agricultural and Food Policy
 Agri Outlook Radio
Number 186
Policy: USDA Takes Action on Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (1:58 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Robert Coats, Ph.D.
Extension Economist and Professor
University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture
USDA News Release
USDA Takes Action on Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling
The United States Department of Agriculture has issued an interim final rule for the
mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) program that will become effective
on Sept. 30, 2008.
The rule covers muscle cuts and ground beef, lamb, chicken, goat, and pork;
perishable agricultural commodities; macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng; and
peanuts. USDA implemented the COOL program for fish and shellfish covered
commodities in October 2004.
Commodities covered under COOL must be labeled at retail to indicate their
country of origin. The exception is they are excluded from mandatory COOL if
they are an ingredient in a processed food item.
Food service establishments, such as restaurants, lunchrooms, cafeterias,
food stands, bars, lounges, and similar enterprises are exempt from the
mandatory country of origin labeling requirements.
The rule prescribes specific criteria that must be met for a covered
commodity to bear a "United States country of origin" declaration. In addition,
the rule also contains provisions for labeling covered commodities of foreign
origin, meat products from multiple origins, ground meat products, as well as
commingled covered commodities.
This has been Robert Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
Copies of the interim final rule and additional information can be found at:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/COOL.
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