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Reaction to COOL repeal bill passage in House

Two major U.S. livestock groups are applauding House passage of a bill to repeal Country of Origin (COOL) rules on beef, pork and poultry.

The House voted 300 to 131 late Wednesday to repeal those meat labeling laws.

“We’re pleased that the House voted to repeal the meat labeling requirements of COOL,” said National Pork Producers Council president Dr. Ron Prestage, “We need the Senate to do the same, and we need that to happen now.  We must avoid trade retaliation from our number one and number three export markets.”

Canada and Mexico have threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on a wide range of U.S. goods unless the U.S. repeals COOL.

Philip Ellis, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said the strong action by the House sends a clear signal that COOL is a failed program.

“COOL has been without benefit to the U.S. cattle industry and producers like myself—and now with retaliation eminent from our largest trading partners, it is time this legislation is repealed,” Ellis said. “There is no other fix that can be put in place to bring value to this program or satisfy our trading partners.”

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson expressed disappointment with the House vote, calling it a “knee-jerk overreaction”.  Johnson urged the U.S. Senate to continue its “thoughtful handling” of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute.

“Instead of allowing members of Congress the opportunity to debate and come to a reasonable solution to deal with the WTO compliance issue, the House has instead given us a reflexive reaction to repeal a very popular labeling law that provides important information to the nation’s consumers and is strongly supported by both consumers and family farmers,” said Johnson. “The House leadership is not interested in any reasonable solutions and blocked all amendments.”

Senator Pat Roberts, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, praised the House vote on COOL but indicated he is willing to consider alternatives to repeal.

“I am continuing to take suggestions from my colleagues in the Senate for alternatives that meet our trade obligations,” Roberts said. “However, almost a month has passed since the WTO ruling was announced, and repeal remains the surest way to protect the American economy from retaliatory tariffs.”

“We can sit here and let this happen. Or we can move. Let’s get a move on.”