News and Notes:
Mandatory COOL still alive
The dispute over mandatory versus voluntary country-or-origin labeling for food products continues. Provisions for mandatory COOL were included in the 2002 Farm Bill, and the law currently is scheduled to take effect Sept. 30, 2006. Supporters of voluntary COOL had hoped Congress would adopt a bill calling for voluntary COOL, introduced by House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Ranking Minority Member Charles Stenholm, D-Texas, for inclusion in the 2005 omnibus spending bill. Congress did not, however, add the voluntary measures to the spending bill, which was completed Nov. 20. For more information, go to drovers.com
Commentary: The beef industry is sharply divided on the issue, with groups such as the NCBA and the AMI lobbying to keep COOL voluntary, while others such as the National Farmers Union, Western Organization of Resource Councils and R-CALF USA support mandatory labeling laws. But the issue is far from final. COOL will likely be part of the debate during the next Congressional session and probably the session after that. — G.H.
USDA moves to import Canadian cattle
Canada would be allowed to resume exports of live cattle and additional types of beef to the United States under a regulation approved by the USDA earlier this week. The regulation is now under review by the Office of Budget and Management, which signs off on all major regulatory changes, as well as Congress. Then the rule will be open to public comment, which means that a border reopening is several months away. In addition, a lawsuit filed by R-CALF challenging the rule will probably be heard early next year in court.
Mandatory COOL still alive
The dispute over mandatory versus voluntary country-or-origin labeling for food products continues. Provisions for mandatory COOL were included in the 2002 Farm Bill, and the law currently is scheduled to take effect Sept. 30, 2006. Supporters of voluntary COOL had hoped Congress would adopt a bill calling for voluntary COOL, introduced by House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Ranking Minority Member Charles Stenholm, D-Texas, for inclusion in the 2005 omnibus spending bill. Congress did not, however, add the voluntary measures to the spending bill, which was completed Nov. 20. For more information, go to drovers.com
Commentary: The beef industry is sharply divided on the issue, with groups such as the NCBA and the AMI lobbying to keep COOL voluntary, while others such as the National Farmers Union, Western Organization of Resource Councils and R-CALF USA support mandatory labeling laws. But the issue is far from final. COOL will likely be part of the debate during the next Congressional session and probably the session after that. — G.H.
USDA moves to import Canadian cattle
Canada would be allowed to resume exports of live cattle and additional types of beef to the United States under a regulation approved by the USDA earlier this week. The regulation is now under review by the Office of Budget and Management, which signs off on all major regulatory changes, as well as Congress. Then the rule will be open to public comment, which means that a border reopening is several months away. In addition, a lawsuit filed by R-CALF challenging the rule will probably be heard early next year in court.
