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Senate bill would move COOL to voluntary

Bi-partisan legislation introduced by Senate Ag Committee ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) replaces mandatory Country of Origin labeling with voluntary requirements. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown a member of the Senate Ag Committee tells Brownfield he would prefer COOL remain mandatory, but he says the move to voluntary will work. “It’s an example of responding bipartisan on behalf of farmers around the country in a way that’s responsible,” Brown said. “It’s not ideal, I would like to see it mandatory, but that’s not gonna happen right now, but we build this and pass this and it makes a difference for consumers and for producers.” Asked if the voluntary approach would be enough to make Canada and Mexico happy. “I don’t really much care if Canada and Mexico are happy with us, I want to make sure that we fall within international trade law,” said the Ohio Senator. “To me the focus is how do we protect consumers, make sure they know what the label means and if Canadian and Mexican producers don’t like it that’s not really our problem as long as it’s legal.” Brown is a co-sponsor of the bill introduced Senate Ag Committee ranking member Debbie Stabenow. Audio: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)