Barrasso To Push For COOL

US - U.S. Sen. John Barrasso today disagreed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to allow live cattle and beef imports from Canada. He also re-iterated his support for implementing an effective mandatory country-of-origin-labeling (COOL) program.

18 September 2007

1 minute read

North America

“The importation of beef and cattle from Canada increases uncertainty in the American beef supply,” Barrasso said. “Today’s decision by USDA highlights the need for an effective COOL program. American consumers deserve the right to know where their food comes from, and American beef producers deserve the right to differentiate their quality product in the marketplace.”

According to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service website (www.ams.usda.gov/cool) the COOL Program was signed into law on May 13, 2002 as a part of the 2002 Farm Bill.

Unfortunately, President Bush has signed into law two delays to COOL implementation. The first on Jan. 27, 2004 which pushed back implementation for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until Sept. 30, 2006. On Nov. 10, 2005 he signed a similar delay, pushing back implementation until Sept. 30, 2008.

Source: Wyoming Business Report