USDA Releases Meat Labeling Changes After WTO Loss

New York — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 8th unveiled new country-of-origin labeling rules meant to bring the U.S. in line with a World Trade Organization ruling that found existing requirements were unfair to livestock producers in other countries such as Canada and Mexico.

The USDA released a proposed rule that would modify U.S. country-of-origin labeling, or COOL, requirements for “muscle cut” meat products. The changes follow a ruling by the WTO Appellate Body, which in June determined that aspects of the existing COOL regulations conflicted with the U.S.'s obligations under certain trade agreements.

“USDA expects that these changes will improve the overall operation of the program and also bring the current mandatory COOL requirements into compliance with U.S. international trade obligations,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the statement.

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