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Grassley says Congress needs to revisit COOL
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says Congress needs to “go back to the drawing board” on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).
Grassley was reacting to the WTO’s ruling that USDA’s revised COOL rule unfairly discriminates against Canada and Mexico.
The National Farmers Union doesn’t want Congress to tamper with the COOL law. The group argues that any changes to COOL should be made administratively by USDA. But Grassley says that may not be possible without help from Congress.
“I think the USDA has tried and tried—if they thought there was some way that they could write a WTO compliant rule by amending it—I presume the statute is fairly restrictive and that’s why I think Congress better take a look at it,” Grassley says.
Grassley supports Country of Origin Labeling. He says people, now more than ever, want to know where their food comes from.
“We know where our T-shirts come from. We should know where our meat comes from,” he says. “We’re going to have to work with our partners in Canada and Mexico to develop a COOL policy that does not violate WTO, while adhering to our laws.
“This is an important pro-farmer and pro-consumer law.”
AUDIO: Chuck Grassley
Mr. Grassley, My suggestion is that the US Congress look at the issue from
a big picture approach. Mexico, United States and Canada basically are a
North American Trading block. That I believe was one of the principles of
NAFTA. The real competition comes from South America ,Australia and
New Zealand. If we want to get this problem solved simply have a label
Product of North America or even simpler if everybody else’s meat has to
have a label the consumer would know that it comes from North America.
Feeder cattle purchased from either Mexico or Canada come under USDA
rules both in the feedlot and processing while at present cattle fattened in Canada which I am sure is the same in Mexico the processor in the US has the Canadian
Feedlot sign an affidavit stating that certain practices have or have not been
done. The cattle are then processed under the watchful eye of USDA inspectors.
For cattle harvested in Canada or Mexico there is a present inspection system
in place by and with the USDA making sure that USDA standards are met.
If a consumer wishes to know where their beef was conceived, grown, fattened
harvested and processed this can be served by a Niche Market. As has been shown
by your own surveys the average consumer is looking for value at the best price
that they can afford. The industry looks to do this every way they can. COOL
has been a costly adventure for everyone. The best way to correct a mistake is
to get rid of it and apply a common sense approach where all segments from the
countries involved, Canada, United States and Mexico create a win-win
situation NOW. Thank you for your time. Harvey Dann