Country of Origin Labelling under fire
Joyce Cassin
Local News - Monday, August 13, 2007 @ 09:00
Country Of Origin Labelling (COOL) isn't likely to help Canada's beef, pork and lamb industries with sales south of the border if the provision, part of the U.S. Farm Bill, gets congressional approval.
"And if this is proposed it will violate NAFTA and WTO agreements already in place," said Lianne Appleby, communications manager for the Ontario Cattlemen's Association.
Currently, Canadian livestock shipped to the U.S. and slaughtered there is marked as U.S. origin. But under COOL, which could take effect September 30, 2008, only animals born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. would be considered of U.S. origin. All others would be labelled according to their true country of origin, regardless of where they are slaughtered.
"Beef products of Canada will be labelled as such, and that presents marketing challenges for Canadian beef," Ms. Appleby said.
As currently enacted, COOL would dramatically reduce U.S. market access for Canadian pork and beef producers, stated a release from the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA), which is actively lobbying Ottawa to take action against COOL.
"COOL proposes that cattle must be born and raised in the U.S. to be labelled U.S.," said Ms. Appleby. "That creates cost problems for U.S. retailers/packers who are currently sourcing Canadian beef, as COOL may make it more expensive for them to continue sourcing cattle from here. The U.S. government has previously acknowledged COOL's benefits are small and it has no relation to either human or animal safety."
Canadian producers anticipate significant difficulties selling hogs and cattle to U.S. slaughterhouses that would seek to minimize the cost of tracking meat from foreign animals. Loss of the U.S. market would trigger an adjustment period in which hogs and cattle intended for U.S. export would instead be sold in the Canadian market, driving down Canadian prices to the detriment of all producers here, the CCA stated.
Ms. Appleby also said the law contravenes U.S. obligations to avoid unnecessary obstacles to international trade, to avoid materially reducing the value of imported products, to administer its laws uniformly and reasonably, and not to nullify or impair benefits that accrue to other parties under the World Trade Organization.
The cattlemen want Ottawa to issue a public statement on COOL's potential to violate both NAFTA and WTO agreements, begin expressing concerns with trade legislators in Congress, as well as with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and American trade representative.
Northumberland-Quinte West MP Rick Norlock said he is disappointed the U.S. is continuing on this track.
"It's my personal belief that this is just one more step in trying to close the border to Canadian beef and increase the price of their beef," he said.
Mr. Norlock said it's a "small minor roadblock" and they plan to work with the Canadian industry and other allies who would be negatively affected, if COOL passes.
He also said he has been talking with the big chain grocery stores to have more local and Canadian products on the shelves to try to help Canadian producers of all types.
"I understand that they're willing to provide it," said Mr. Norlock. "But customers have to keep encouraging them to buy local - and the customers always get what they want."