Trade Dispute May Eliminate 'Country Of Origin' Labels From Beef

Package labels on fresh cuts of meat that identify where animals were born, raised and slaughtered could disappear soon in a trade dispute with Canada that also pits the meat industry against some farm groups, including Wisconsin Farmers Union.

Next month, the World Trade Organization is expected to issue a final ruling in the dispute, which could have broad implications for Wisconsin's agriculture industry. In a nutshell, Canada and Mexico have alleged that "country of origin" labeling on meat packaging in the United States puts them at a competitive disadvantage in the American marketplace.

The WTO has agreed more than once with Canada and Mexico that the labels on fresh meat sold in the U.S. give the U.S. livestock industry an unfair edge. In a recent ruling, the organization said the labeling requirement forced meatpackers to keep detailed records on imported livestock, a burdensome process, thus giving them an incentive to favor U.S. sources.

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