U.S. senators: Take steps toward COOL

A coalition of U.S. senators is calling upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to takes steps toward country-of-origin labeling.

Elwood “Woody” Barth, president of North Dakota Farmers Union, said it was encouraging to see support for COOL.

“We thank Sen. Jon Tester, R-Montana, for his work in garnering support in the Senate in regards to COOL compliance,” said Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union. “Consumers have a right to know where their food comes from and U.S. farmers and ranchers want to be able to tell them.”

The World Trade Organization recently required the USDA to adjust its rules requiring retailers to clearly label where meat was raised and processed. The WTO said that while the U.S. can require meat labeling, current U.S. COOL rules do not meet WTO standards.

“USDA and USTR should take even stronger regulatory actions to make sure that COOL provides meaningful information about the origins of meat and other products,” Johnson said.

Tags: news, agribusiness