Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 12/21/15


The labeling requiremenmts under country-of-origin labeling rules have been suspended effective immediately, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement released Friday.

"The omnibus bill repealed the country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for muscle cust of beef and pork, and ground beef and pork. Effective immediately, USDA is not enforcing the COOL requirements for muscle cut and ground beef and pork outlined in the January 2009 and May 2013 final rules," the statement said.

USDA will be amending the COOL regulations as expeditiously as possible to reflect the repeal of the beef and pork provisions, the agency said.

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