Nebraska Cattlemen Submits Country of Origin Labeling Comments

US - The Nebraska Cattlemen has sent a letter to Ag Secretary Johanns outlining its position on the current Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) statute and rule. NC policy supports changes to the current policy and supports a mandatory COOL program only if it is economically beneficial to all segments of the beef industry.
calendar icon 26 April 2007
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Mandatory labeling is scheduled to begin Sept., 30, 2008, but bills in both the Senate and House would change the date to Sept. 30, 2007. Nebraska Cattlemen requests that the implementation date not be moved forward. In addition, NC has requested that COOL become an independent statute rather than a subtitle of the Farm Bill. This important legislation should stand on its own rather than be diluted among the other complicated policies of Farm Bill legislation, said Nebraska Cattlemen President Jay Wolf.

NC recommends that ground beef be removed from the statute because by COOL definitions it has undergone a physical change from the original a whole muscle.

In another section, the statute prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from using “a mandatory identification system to verify the country of origin of a covered commodity.” NC requests this section be removed so the Secretary would be allowed to utilize mandatory identification systems if such systems exist. In some states, brand laws require producers to brand their cattle for identification. Additionally, all live cattle coming from either Canada or Mexico currently must be identified with a brand, thereby accomplishing individual identification of the majority of imported cattle. The Secretary should be able to utilize these systems (or other future mandatory identification systems that may be created) in order to determine country of origin.

The current statute allows the Secretary to utilize the carcass grading and certification system which is a standard for beef quality in the United States. NC requests that the U.S. Quality Grade stamp be utilized only on beef from cattle that are born, raised and processed in the U.S. This would allow the U.S. Quality Grade to be utilized as a label of country of origin.

Also, the statute should contain a “grandfather” provision that allows for all cattle born before the implementation date of the program that are not specifically identified as being non-U.S. origin. Without a grandfather provision cattlemen will not know the value of some of their assets.

The statute also allows the Secretary to fine retailers up to $10,000 for each violation. NC believes this is extreme and may cause some small retailers to choose not to offer beef for sale due to the level of risk associated with the fines. NC requests that fines be correlated to the amount and value of inventory not labeled properly.

The statute does not include poultry. This provides for an unfair advantage to a competing protein and should be corrected.

Because many of NC’s comments require legislative changes, NC is forwarding its comments to all five of the Nebraska congressional delegation as well as House and Senate leadership.

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