AMS Letter Supports WTO COOL Appeal, States Regs Will Remain in Force

The Agricultural Marketing Service released a letter to industry representatives saying country of origin labeling (COOL) regulations will remain in force and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture strongly supports the U.S. Trade Representative’s appeal in the World Trade Organization (WTO) to defend its existing COOL regulations. Under COOL, retailers must give their customers information about the origin of various food products, including fruits, vegetables, fish and shellfish and meats. The final COOL regulations became effective March 16, 2009. AMS is responsible for the implementation, administration and enforcement of the COOL regulations.

(On March 23, 2012, the United States appealed the WTO Panel report, issued on November 18, 2011, which found certain aspects of the United States’ COOL requirements, as they apply to beef and pork, to breach the WTO commitments of the U.S. On March 28, 2012, Canada and Mexico, the complaining parties in the dispute, also appealed certain aspects of the Panel’s report. See ITT’s Online Archives 12032912 for summary of the USTR’s announcement of the U.S. appeal.)