A regulatory change to the county of origin labeling legislation in the United States will be published March 11.
Issued by the U.S. department of agriculture the proposed rule modifies the labeling provisions to require origin designations to include information about where each of the production steps – born, raised, and slaughtered – occurred and would remove the allowance for commingling of muscle cuts.
The federal government and industry groups are already protesting saying it does not live up to the world trade organization directive to change the rule and end discrimination against Canadian cattle and hog exports.
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The Canadian Pork Council and Canadian Cattlemen’s Association have fought for a legal change rather than a regulatory fix.
The federal government said trade retaliation may result if the U.S. does not achieve compliance by May 23.
“Our government is extremely disappointed with the proposed regulatory changes put forward by the United States today with respect to country of origin labeling,” said Gerry Ritz in a statement released March 8.
However, U.S. agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack countered that the proposal should satisfy Canada and Mexico.
“USDA expects that these changes will improve the overall operation of the program and also bring the current mandatory COOL requirements into compliance with U.S. international trade obligations,” he said in a statement issued the same day.
Notice of the proposed rule will be displayed in the March 11, 2013 Federal Register and can be viewed at http://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection.
