Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 12/17/15

Several national organizations are applauding language in the proposed omnibus spending bill that would repeal mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) that would block proposed tariffs of $1 billion against the United States.

The $1.1-trillion spending package opens the door for halting the tariffs on U.S. exports levied by Canada and Mexico that are expected to be approved by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday. Even Canada and Mexico have called on U.S. lawmakers to repeal the COOL measures in an effort to avoid retaliatory tariffs that could be imposed on their exports.

Adding language to the bill that repeals those provisions in the omnibus budget bill could prevent a threat to the U.S. economy, the loss of thousands of American jobs and the loss of market share, according to the COOL Reform Coalition, a group of more than 140 organizations that represent U.S. food, agriculture and manufacturing industries.

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) echoed the sentiments of the coalition in an email to Meatingplace, urging Congress to pass the bill quickly.

“We are enormously grateful that lawmakers have included language in the Omnibus bill to repeal mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling for certain meat products,” NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter said in a statement. “This trade dispute’s tentacles extend far beyond agriculture and it’s time to put an end to this costly trade barrier. The marketplace, with consumers as the drivers, should determine what labeling is meaningful and should appear on meat products — not protectionists who fear free and unfettered trade.”

Dr. Barbara P. Glenn, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), added that repealing the COOL provisions  “will allow the U.S. to remain compliant with international trade obligations. We commend Congress for working to repeal these harmful requirements.”

National Chicken Council (NCC) President Mike Brown also called the move by U.S. lawmakers “a win-win for chicken producers and consumers” as well as a victory for all U.S. agricultural products in a statement sent to Meatingplace.
“Congress is poised to repeal the mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling regulations for beef and pork, which have twice been deemed illegal by the WTO. When at the meat case, consumers seeking chicken made in the USA can continue to readily identify these products of American origin,” Brown added.

The current bill also has provisions covering limits to the impact of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines, but does not deal directly with mandatory labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as food and agriculture trade groups has lobbied for in recent months.

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