COOL Hearing Begins, Judge to Issue Decision Within 14 Days
Country-of-Origin Labeling Rule Challenged in Court
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
Nine representatives from North American meat processing and cattlemen groups were in Washington, D.C. court Tuesday, regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mandatory country of origin labelling rules (COOL). The oral hearing entertained the organizations filing of an injunction to stop USDA from enforcing its COOL rules.
COOL labeling was first introduced in the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. At the time, the labeling rules were highly contentious among domestic and foreign meatpackers. After a complaint filed by Canada and Mexico claiming that the rules breach trade agreements, the World Trade Organization ordered the United States to comply.
The USDA instead introduced a final rule, which the groups allege violates their rights of freedom of speech and that the labels provide no added benefit to consumers. The final rule requires meat to include information on where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered, and prohibits “commingling”.
A D.C. judge said she would issue a decision on a preliminary injunction within the next 14 days.