Canada is using a fast-track 60-day comment period announced by the United States government to complain about a proposal by the Americans to impose country-of-origin labels on food.
The comment period called by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture expires in August. A COOL rule could be imposed by next year, possibly in parallel with a new farm bill.
“We think it is excessive and we will be intervening to hope to make it less onerous,” Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Hugh Lynch-Staunton said July 6.
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“This is supported by a wide spectrum of people in the U.S., some who see it as a way to protect their beef industry, some who see it as a consumer information issue. We are working with those who want to make this work with the least disruption.”
The Canadian Pork Council also is tabling a brief, arguing that the proposed labelling system would be an unwarranted trade barrier that would reduce access and price for Canadian hogs and weanlings to the American market. U.S. packing plants and feeder operations would have to segregate Canadian from domestic stock.
Grain Growers of Canada executive director Richard Phillips said his members likely will not be deeply affected, but in principle and practice, it is a bad proposal.
“It appears to be just another trade barrier,” he said. “It will push down the price of Canadian cattle and that affects everyone in the chain including feed providers.”
Agriculture Canada last week said any detail on Canada’s position on the COOL proposal should come from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. An agency official confirmed a brief had been filed but said any detail would have to come from one of the “lead” departments such as Agriculture Canada.
Meanwhile, some Canadian voices suggest a country-of-origin label might end up being a good thing for Canadian product if it can be branded as high quality and environmentally responsible.
“In the longer run, there is a potential that we can turn this to our advantage,” said Lynch-Staunton. “But at first, I think it would be disruptive and the source of a lot of frustration and cost.”
National Farmers Union president Stewart Wells, a southern Saskatchewan organic farmer, said there is potential for labelling to be a powerful Canadian marketing tool. It has worked for Canadian organic products in creating a price-premium niche.
“I also think consumers have the basic right to know what they are eating and where it comes from,” he said. “With the right product identification, I think a product-of-Canada label could be a good thing.”
There are Canadian moves in the same direction.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture recently proposed a “product-of-Canada” label to help market Canadian produce in Canada.
The House of Commons agriculture committee recommended at the end of June that the Canadian government promote a buy-Canadian policy, including making sure that government agencies and institutions that buy food should give preference to domestic and local production.
