She wouldn’t be so worried if she was assured the processing procedures were the same as in the U.S.

Americans will buy imported meat if assured of standards

USDA should help consumers make more informed decisions


With Congress currently debating the repeal of mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) for meat and poultry — federal law in the U.S. since 2002 — new research from the Sam W. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas shines a spotlight on how COOL labelling affects consumers’ purchase decisions. In “A COOL Effect: The

A sample of the proposed labels to show country of origin for food sold in Australia. 
The label has a bar chart to indicate the percentage of each country.

Australia to adopt mandatory COOL

Country has designed its own country-of-origin labels for consumers

The Australian government has announced that it intends to introduce mandatory country-of-origin labelling for food. This is an excerpt from a press release announcing the program. Public concern over country-of-origin labelling has resulted in numerous inquiries, reports and proposals on the matter over many decades without any real change or improvement. For many years consumers


(Photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol, VisitTheCapitol.gov)

Voluntary COOL still not OK: Ritz and Fast

Two U.S. senators have introduced a bipartisan bill which would replace mandatory country-of-origin labelling for meat within a voluntary program, but it doesn’t impress Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast. The bill is intended to bring the U.S. into compliance with a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling in May that the

Outright repeal of COOL defies consumer sentiment

Outright repeal of COOL defies consumer sentiment

It was how the meat-packing industry applied the law that caused the negative effects on imports

The fate of the U.S. COOL (country-of-origin labelling) program for beef, pork, and poultry hangs in the balance as Congress goes on its Independence Day recess. Given the May 18, 2015 WTO (World Trade Organization) ruling against COOL, the threat of $3 billion in retaliatory tariffs being imposed on U.S. products by Canada and Mexico,



U.S. Senate building

Progress on COOL, but Canada still threatening retaliation

U.S. Senate and Obama administration need to act quickly, warns Agriculture Minister Ritz

While the House of Representatives has voted strongly to repeal the country-of-origin labelling program, the Senate and the Obama administration need to act quickly as well, warns Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. Otherwise Canada along with Mexico will be putting their case for retaliatory duties to a special meeting of the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement


Canadian agricultural minister Gerry Ritz

Canada ups the ante in COOL dispute

Canada is seeking more than $3 billion in tariffs

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is warning Canada will play hardball with American politicians who block legislation to scrap the U.S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL) program on beef and pork imports. Canada formally asked the World Trade Organization June 4 to approve slightly more than $3 billion a year in retaliatory tariffs on American food and consumer



farmer combining wheat

U.S. wheat industry alleges Canada discriminates

U.S. Wheat Associates says Canada’s grading system is like COOL in reverse

The United States’ wheat lobby is glad to be rid of Canada’s single-desk wheat seller; now it wants better access to Canadian wheat markets. U.S. Wheat Associates sent a letter to Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz May 20 saying Canadian wheat grading and varietal registration regulations unfairly discriminate against U.S. imports. “It is readily apparent to

(WTO.org)

WTO booked to hear Canada’s COOL tariff case

The World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body is set to hear Canada’s request in just under two weeks for revenge against the U.S. over country-of-origin labelling (COOL). Canada on Thursday filed its request for authorization of retaliatory tariffs, to be considered at a DSB meeting on June 17, the federal government said. Barring a repeal