News

Favorable ruling for COOL

An appeals court ruling in Washington, DC has reaffirmed  the USDA’s Country of Origin Labeling program for meat products. Last Friday, the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld an earlier decision to deny an appeal to halt enforcement of the 2008 labeling law.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says it’s the third time that COOL has won in court and that “there is no need for (the) case to proceed.”

The USDA’s new COOL rules are being challenged by meatpackers and foreign competitors. Objections over the rule by Canada and Mexico that are before the World Trade Organization are pending but a WTO decision is expected soon.

South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson, an author of the original COOL rule, fought to keep COOL in the newest farm bill. In a statement relased following the ruling, Johnson said, “South Dakota’s and the nation’s independent livestock producers, along with consumers everywhere, got a big win with this decision that maintains their right to have meat labeled as to its country of origin.”