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Canada targets U.S. products in COOL dispute, tightens food safety measures
Story Date: 5/21/2013
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Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 5/20/13
Canada plans to develop a list of U.S. products it will target in retaliation for Washington’s country-of-origin labeling law and separately has announced stepped-up food safety protocols for that country’s meat processors.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told reporters in a news conference Friday that the list will be put into effect if Washington fails to comply with the World Trade Organization’s mandate for revisions to COOL, due May 23.
“We will be putting forward a list of retaliatory products to make sure tha thte Americans have a further understanding of what that will be,” Ritz was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Also reportedly discussed at the news conference and outlined in a news release, the Canadian government said it will toughen testing at a food safety rules for meat plants.
The Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan will firstly tighten the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s beef safety rules and has implemented new mandatory requirements that will strengthen controls for E. coli O157:H7.
Also, by July 2 federally-registered plants in Canada that produce mechanically tenderized beef cuts will be required to label those products as tenderized and with cooking instructions.
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