AMS No. 123-07
Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
[email protected]
Jimmie Turner (202) 720-6179
[email protected]
USDA REOPENS COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED RULE FOR MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING OF BEEF, LAMB, PORK, PERISHABLE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES, AND PEANUTS
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2007 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is reopening the comment period for 60 days for the Proposed Rule (PR) for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the comment period to request general comments on the PR for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. Persons providing comments should take into account that the Agency has changed some definitions and requirements in the Interim Final Rule for fish and shellfish, which was published after the PR, that would now be applicable to all covered commodities. USDA will review the comments and information received as it promulgates a final rule for mandatory COOL for all covered commodities.
When preparing comments on the proposed rule, AMS asks that interested parties consider the provisions of the Interim Final Rule for fish and shellfish and whether the definitions and requirements in the interim final rule can also be applied to beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. AMS is simultaneously reopening the comment period for the Interim Final Rule for the mandatory COOL program for fish and shellfish covered commodities.
USDA published the PR for mandatory COOL of beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts in the Oct. 30, 2003, Federal Register. The PR requires designated retailers and their suppliers to notify customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. The PR also requires retailers and their suppliers to maintain specific records to verify claims. The full text of the PR can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/ls0304.pdf .
Details of the comment period reopening will be published in the June 20 issue of the Federal Register.
Comments are due August 20 and should be submitted online at www.regulations.gov. Additional means of comment submission are via e-mail to [email protected]; by mail to Country of Origin Labeling Program, Room 2607-S, Agricultural Marketing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0254, Washington, DC 2025-0254; or by fax to (202) 720 – 1112.. Additional information on this and the COOL program can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool.
Rules; http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/coolbeef.pdf
Rules; http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/coolsheep.pdf
Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
[email protected]
Jimmie Turner (202) 720-6179
[email protected]
USDA REOPENS COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED RULE FOR MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING OF BEEF, LAMB, PORK, PERISHABLE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES, AND PEANUTS
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2007 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is reopening the comment period for 60 days for the Proposed Rule (PR) for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the comment period to request general comments on the PR for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. Persons providing comments should take into account that the Agency has changed some definitions and requirements in the Interim Final Rule for fish and shellfish, which was published after the PR, that would now be applicable to all covered commodities. USDA will review the comments and information received as it promulgates a final rule for mandatory COOL for all covered commodities.
When preparing comments on the proposed rule, AMS asks that interested parties consider the provisions of the Interim Final Rule for fish and shellfish and whether the definitions and requirements in the interim final rule can also be applied to beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. AMS is simultaneously reopening the comment period for the Interim Final Rule for the mandatory COOL program for fish and shellfish covered commodities.
USDA published the PR for mandatory COOL of beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts in the Oct. 30, 2003, Federal Register. The PR requires designated retailers and their suppliers to notify customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. The PR also requires retailers and their suppliers to maintain specific records to verify claims. The full text of the PR can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/ls0304.pdf .
Details of the comment period reopening will be published in the June 20 issue of the Federal Register.
Comments are due August 20 and should be submitted online at www.regulations.gov. Additional means of comment submission are via e-mail to [email protected]; by mail to Country of Origin Labeling Program, Room 2607-S, Agricultural Marketing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0254, Washington, DC 2025-0254; or by fax to (202) 720 – 1112.. Additional information on this and the COOL program can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool.
Rules; http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/coolbeef.pdf
Rules; http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/coolsheep.pdf