Country of Origin Labeling

USDA Finalizes Voluntary “Product of USA” Label Claim to Enhance Consumer Protection

March 13, 2024 USDA

At the National Farmers Union Annual Convention, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the finalization of a rule to align the voluntary “Product of USA” label claim with consumer understanding of what the claim means. Secretary Vilsack also announced USDA is awarding $9.5 million to 42 projects through the Local Meat Capacity grant program to expand processing options for the meat and poultry industry and new actions to ensure transparency and a fair and competitive market in the U.S seed industry. …

Statement by FL Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried on USDA’s Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement

April 30, 2020 Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced it would temporarily suspend enforcement of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for fresh fruit and vegetables in response to COVID-19, allowing products sold to foodservice businesses to be redistributed to grocery stores, markets, and other retail businesses. …

USDA Announces Labeling Flexibility to Facilitate Distribution of Food to Retail Locations

April 16, 2020 USDA

USDA is exercising enforcement discretion for a temporary period to provide labeling flexibilities to the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements and allow the re-distribution of food products intended for foodservice to be sold in retail establishments. …

USDA Announces it Will Revisit Country of Origin Labeling

April 14, 2020 Sam Bloch, The Counter

COOL hasn’t been enforced since 2016, after trade disputes led Congress to repeal the short-lived law. Since then, meat that comes in from other countries has been legally sold as a “Product of U.S.A.,” or labeled “Made in the U.S.A.,” even if it’s only been repackaged here. Critics say that has misled shoppers and hurt domestic cattle ranchers, all the while benefiting the world’s biggest meat processors. …

Ranch Group Applauds Start of Congressional Effort to Reinstate Country of Origin Labeling For Beef

November 6, 2019 R-CALF USA

R-CALF USA applauds yesterday’s introduction by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) a congressional resolution calling on the rest of Congress to “reinstate Country-of-Origin labeling for pork and beef to allow consumers to make an informed and free choice about where their food comes from.” …