The USDA has revised the Country of Origin Labeling program, COOL, and its original author, US Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, says that’s a good thing.  A news release from Senator Johnson and Senators Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Jon Tester of Montana praised the proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. It will require each production step of the animal be printed on the labels of muscle cuts of meat. It also stops the packing facility practice of comingling livestock “from multiple origins and label the meat from those livestock with the same label.”

The proposed rule has grown out of the World Trade Organization’s finding that current COOL regulations are not up to its standards.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says the new proposed rule will “create more problems for the U.S. beef industry” — including increased costs for processors, retailers and ultimately, for consumers.  Senator Johnson says he’s glad the USDA put forward the proposal so “Americans can be further informed about the origin of the meat they feed their families.”

The proposed amended COOL rule is open for public comment through April 11th (2013).