The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Consumers, farmers expected to give COOL law a warm reception
PUBLISHED: August 21, 2008
Beginning Sept. 30, consumers will be able to easily identify whether certain foods are a product of the United States or another country as farmers, food processors and retailers begin complying with a new country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law.
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After years of political wrangling over requirements for the labeling of agricultural products, COOL is set to take effect next month as mandated by the recently adopted federal farm bill.
The law requires that the country of origin of certain food products be visible via stickers, tags, placards or other forms of labeling at the retail level. The affected commodities include beef, veal, lamb, chicken, goat, and pork; perishable agricultural commodities including fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; as well as macadamia nuts, pecans, peanuts and ginseng.
However, these products are exempt from COOL requirements if they are an ingredient in a processed food item or were produced or packaged before Sept. 30. COOL only applies to retail establishments such as grocery stores. It does not apply to restaurants, lunchrooms, cafeterias, lounges or other food service establishments.
What does this means for consumers?
Shortly, consumers will see three different categories of labeling. The affected products will either be labeled as a product of the USA; a product of the USA and another country; or a product of one or more foreign countries. Labels bearing multiple countries will reflect agricultural transactions in the food chain, such as a U.S. farmer raising a hog that was originally born and bred in Canada.
The approaching implementation of COOL bodes well as more consumers show interest in buying local food and express concerns about food safety, said Ernie Birchmeier, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) livestock and dairy specialist.
"Mandatory country-of-origin labeling has multiple benefits," said Birchmeier. "With COOL, consumers know where their food comes from and can make a conscious effort to look for the USA seal and support America's farmers. In addition, the labeling will be an asset in the traceability of food products during an outbreak of a food-borne illness."
Michigan's fruit and vegetable industry also looks forward to full implementation of the COOL mandate, said MFB horticultural and forestry specialist Ken Nye."We encourage consumers to look for and seek out domestically grown products whenever possible," said Nye.
The benefits of COOL will come at a price, though, as implementation costs are spread throughout the food chain and eventually reach the consumer.
USDA estimates that first-year implementation costs for retailers, farmers, food processors and other intermediary companies will total $2.5 billion. That's below the estimated costs of an earlier COOL proposal offered in the 2002 farm bill. Congress delayed the implementation of that original plan with the exception of labeling for fish and shellfish.
What does this mean for farmers?
Farmers affected by COOL, particularly livestock producers, should expect to sign affidavits verifying a commodity's country of origin with the company or business that markets the product.
"It will be very similar to other quality assurance programs that farmers are accustomed to," said Birchmeier. "The Michigan Farm Bureau will work to educate producers on these changes, but it's imperative that farmers also contact and work with their marketing partners to make sure they are fulfilling the requirements set forth."
USDA also plans to conduct education and outreach activities during the six months following the rule's effective date. Under the law, suppliers and retailers found in violation of COOL can be fined up to $1,000 per violation.
"The phase-in and educational period is critical as this new system is implemented, and a cooperative effort between farmers, processors, retailers and government agencies will go a long way in assuring that COOL is successful," said Birchmeier.
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