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Current COOL Rule does Not Meet Congress's Intent

A

Anonymous

Guest
USDA Secretary Vilsack has indicated that the final COOL rule as established by the Bush USDA fails to meet Congress’ intent in three main areas:

The use of a mixed-origin label on meat from U.S. animals does not provide the specific information that Congress intended to provide to consumers.

The exemption of commodities from labeling requirements because they had been cooked, roasted or cured does not comply with Congress’ intent to inform consumers of the origins of the food they purchase.

The provision that allows meat processors to include a country’s name on ground meat even when no product is sourced from that country for 60 days does not provide accurate information to consumers as Congress intended.

It is believed Vilsack will issued an official directive tomorrow to the industry to immediately correct these problems......
 

Tex

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
USDA Secretary Vilsack has indicated that the final COOL rule as established by the Bush USDA fails to meet Congress’ intent in three main areas:

The use of a mixed-origin label on meat from U.S. animals does not provide the specific information that Congress intended to provide to consumers.

The exemption of commodities from labeling requirements because they had been cooked, roasted or cured does not comply with Congress’ intent to inform consumers of the origins of the food they purchase.

The provision that allows meat processors to include a country’s name on ground meat even when no product is sourced from that country for 60 days does not provide accurate information to consumers as Congress intended.

It is believed Vilsack will issued an official directive tomorrow to the industry to immediately correct these problems......

Let us hope so. Johanns could not do his job and should have been publicly fired for not being able to to do it. Neither could former Sec. of Ags. because this has been an agency that has been bought and paid for by big business. These companies have looted this agency for their own greed and advantage in the competition game.

It is good to hear we finally have a Sec. of Ag. that might deserve their pay.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Vilsack calls for stricter food labels



By MARY CLARE JALONICK

The Associated Press-Google

Feb 18, 2009



WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is throwing out food labeling rules proposed by the Agriculture Department just before George W. Bush left office, saying it wants labels for fresh meat and other foods that would show more clearly where an animal or food came from, according to consumer groups who've been briefed on the issue.



Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told several consumer groups Tuesday in a conference call that he will ask the meat industry to voluntarily follow stricter guidelines for new package labels designed to specify a food's country of origin, according to three people who were on the call. If the industry does not comply, the administration will write new rules, according to those who spoke with Vilsack.




The labeling requirements, which would apply to fresh meats and some perishable fruits and vegetables, long have been debated in Congress and were enacted as part of a wide-ranging farm bill last year. While the meat industry and retailers responsible for the labels have protested the changes — saying they are burdensome and could lead to higher prices — consumer groups and northern states ranchers who compete with the Canadian beef industry favor them.



All sides worked out a compromise during debate over the farm bill last year, but much of the law was left open to interpretation by the Agriculture Department. Supporters of the law were not happy with the Bush administration's version of the rules, which they said allowed meat companies to be vague about where an animal was born, raised and slaughtered.



According to those on the call, including Jean Halloran of Consumers Union and Patty Lovera of Food and Water Watch, Vilsack said he would like to see labels that would give consumers a clearer idea about the origin of the animal or food.



Vilsack also said the law should cover more foods, Halloran and Lovera said. Many foods that are defined as "processed" — roasted peanuts, for example, or cured bacon — are exempt from the law, but Vilsack proposed narrowing that definition.



Lovera said she was encouraged by the proposals, which Vilsack is expected to lay out in a letter to the meat industry Wednesday.



"The bottom line is we think people have a right to know and they can act on it based on their own opinions and preferences," she said.



The leading opponents of the law have been grocery stores and large meatpacking companies — many of whom mix U.S. and Mexican beef — and other businesses involved in getting products to supermarkets.



The Obama administration's changes could cause problems with the country's North American neighbors. Both Mexico and Canada have protested the labeling law in a complaint to the World Trade Organization. Obama is scheduled to visit Canada this week.



Source: The Associated Press

google.com
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Vilsack cancels COOL call, plans to issue letter to meat industry

By Tom Johnston on 2/18/2009


Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday called off a scheduled press teleconference on the final rule for mandatory country-of-origin labeling due to a scheduling conflict, but is expected to issue today a letter to the meat industry regarding his views on the subject, a USDA spokesman confirmed to Meatingplace.

Media reports quoted participants in a separate conference call Tuesday between Vilsack and consumer groups as saying the secretary expressed his intention to ask the meat industry to voluntarily follow more stringent guidelines under COOL, and that if the industry does not comply, the administration would write new rules.
 

Tex

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Vilsack cancels COOL call, plans to issue letter to meat industry

By Tom Johnston on 2/18/2009


Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday called off a scheduled press teleconference on the final rule for mandatory country-of-origin labeling due to a scheduling conflict, but is expected to issue today a letter to the meat industry regarding his views on the subject, a USDA spokesman confirmed to Meatingplace.

Media reports quoted participants in a separate conference call Tuesday between Vilsack and consumer groups as saying the secretary expressed his intention to ask the meat industry to voluntarily follow more stringent guidelines under COOL, and that if the industry does not comply, the administration would write new rules.

Forget a letter. Just fine them out of business if they don't comply. These people only understand money and the flow of money. Whoever was in the Bush administration that didn't want to regulate should be demoted to a swine emissions investigator. They can already stand the stench.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
For Immediate Release Contact: Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator
February 18, 2009 Phone: 406-672-8969; e-mail: [email protected]



Group Strongly Supports Secretary Vilsack’s

Call for Changes to Final COOL Rule




Billings, Mont. – On Tuesday, at the invitation of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard participated in a conference call with the Secretary, along with representatives of the National Farmers Union, Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America, Food & Water Watch and the American Farm Bureau Federation, to address problems with loopholes in the final mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rule, originally scheduled to take effect in March.



Today, R-CALF USA wishes to thank Vilsack for contemplating issuing a letter to the industry, asking participants to comply with Congress’ intent when it wrote the law, and specifically to correct the following three issues:



* The use of a mixed-origin label on meat from U.S. animals does not provide the specific information that Congress intended to provide to consumers.



* The exemption of commodities from labeling requirements because they had been cooked, roasted or cured does not comply with Congress’ intent to inform consumers of the origins of the food they purchase.



* The provision that allows meat processors to include a country’s name on ground meat even when no product is sourced from that country for 60 days does not provide accurate information to consumers as Congress intended.



Secretary Vilsack said he has two choices to correct these deficiencies: 1) start a whole new rulemaking process, which would mean that these problems would persist until a new rulemaking could be completed (this could take five to seven months); or, 2) issue an official directive to the industry to immediately correct these problems.



“We are extremely pleased that Secretary Vilsack recognizes that the final COOL rule does not meet the intent of the COOL law passed by Congress and also that he realizes his responsibility is to implement the COOL law as passed by Congress, not to make a new law in the rulemaking process,”
said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.



“Secretary Vilsack asked R-CALF USA and the other participants for their input on the two options based on his belief that the problems in the COOL rule could be corrected much quicker by informing the industry that if they don’t immediately comply, a new rulemaking would immediately be initiated,” he continued. “The Secretary believes the industry will want to comply with his request, and R-CALF USA agrees that if the industry does comply, then consumers would be provided accurate labels sooner than if a new rulemaking were initiated as the only solution.



“We hope that industry participants will honor the requests of Secretary Vilsack to provide accurate COOL labels to consumers at the earliest date possible,” Bullard emphasized.



# # #



R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
http://www.usda.gov/2009/02/0045.xml

VILSACK ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING LAW

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the final rule for the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program will go into effect as scheduled on March 16th. He also released a letter inviting stakeholders to follow additional voluntary labeling practices. The rule, published in the Federal Register on Jan.15, 2009, has been under regulatory review by USDA pursuant to a Jan. 20, 2009, memorandum from the President's Chief of Staff.

"I strongly support Country of Origin Labeling - it's a critical step toward providing consumers with additional information about the origin of their food," said Vilsack. "The Department of Agriculture will be closely reviewing industry compliance with the rule and will evaluate the practicality of the suggestions for voluntary action in my letter."

During the regulatory review process, Secretary Vilsack determined that allowing the rule to go into effect and carefully monitoring implementation and compliance by retailers and their suppliers would provide the best avenue to evaluate the program. This evaluation period will inform the Secretary's consideration of whether additional rulemaking may be necessary to provide consumers with adequate information.

The COOL regulation requires country of origin labeling for muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng sold by designated retailers. These commodities must be labeled at retail to indicate the country of origin.

The final rule outlines requirements for labeling covered commodities and the recordkeeping requirements for retailers and suppliers. The rule prescribes specific criteria that must be met for a commodity to bear a "United States Country of Origin" declaration. The rule also contains provisions for labeling covered commodities of foreign origin.

For complete information on the COOL statute and regulation, go to www.ams.usda.gov/cool.
USDA News
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
http://www.usda.gov/2009/02/0045.xml

VILSACK ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING LAW

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the final rule for the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program will go into effect as scheduled on March 16th. He also released a letter inviting stakeholders to follow additional voluntary labeling practices. The rule, published in the Federal Register on Jan.15, 2009, has been under regulatory review by USDA pursuant to a Jan. 20, 2009, memorandum from the President's Chief of Staff.

"I strongly support Country of Origin Labeling - it's a critical step toward providing consumers with additional information about the origin of their food," said Vilsack. "The Department of Agriculture will be closely reviewing industry compliance with the rule and will evaluate the practicality of the suggestions for voluntary action in my letter."

During the regulatory review process, Secretary Vilsack determined that allowing the rule to go into effect and carefully monitoring implementation and compliance by retailers and their suppliers would provide the best avenue to evaluate the program. This evaluation period will inform the Secretary's consideration of whether additional rulemaking may be necessary to provide consumers with adequate information.

The COOL regulation requires country of origin labeling for muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng sold by designated retailers. These commodities must be labeled at retail to indicate the country of origin.

The final rule outlines requirements for labeling covered commodities and the recordkeeping requirements for retailers and suppliers. The rule prescribes specific criteria that must be met for a commodity to bear a "United States Country of Origin" declaration. The rule also contains provisions for labeling covered commodities of foreign origin.

For complete information on the COOL statute and regulation, go to www.ams.usda.gov/cool.
USDA News

From what I read it that is it's business as usual. :)
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Big Muddy rancher said:
Oldtimer said:
http://www.usda.gov/2009/02/0045.xml

VILSACK ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING LAW

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the final rule for the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program will go into effect as scheduled on March 16th. He also released a letter inviting stakeholders to follow additional voluntary labeling practices. The rule, published in the Federal Register on Jan.15, 2009, has been under regulatory review by USDA pursuant to a Jan. 20, 2009, memorandum from the President's Chief of Staff.

"I strongly support Country of Origin Labeling - it's a critical step toward providing consumers with additional information about the origin of their food," said Vilsack. "The Department of Agriculture will be closely reviewing industry compliance with the rule and will evaluate the practicality of the suggestions for voluntary action in my letter."

During the regulatory review process, Secretary Vilsack determined that allowing the rule to go into effect and carefully monitoring implementation and compliance by retailers and their suppliers would provide the best avenue to evaluate the program. This evaluation period will inform the Secretary's consideration of whether additional rulemaking may be necessary to provide consumers with adequate information.

The COOL regulation requires country of origin labeling for muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng sold by designated retailers. These commodities must be labeled at retail to indicate the country of origin.

The final rule outlines requirements for labeling covered commodities and the recordkeeping requirements for retailers and suppliers. The rule prescribes specific criteria that must be met for a commodity to bear a "United States Country of Origin" declaration. The rule also contains provisions for labeling covered commodities of foreign origin.

For complete information on the COOL statute and regulation, go to www.ams.usda.gov/cool.
USDA News

From what I read it that is it's business as usual. :)

My understanding is that he went ahead with the M-COOL to get it going-as setting new rules would take months---but that if the Packers/retailers don't voluntarily label products the way Congress intended- and he has directed- and try cutting corners and doing the "mixture", multiple country labeling- that he will reopen the rule setting process- and make it part of the law (which will occur sometime later anyway)...
It already sounds like some of the Packers have indicated they are going to go along with the voluntary rules...
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Big Muddy rancher said:

From what I read it that is it's business as usual. :)

My understanding is that he went ahead with the M-COOL to get it going-as setting new rules would take months---but that if the Packers/retailers don't voluntarily label products the way Congress intended- and he has directed- and try cutting corners and doing the "mixture", multiple country labeling- that he will reopen the rule setting process- and make it part of the law (which will occur sometime later anyway)...
It already sounds like some of the Packers have indicated they are going to go along with the voluntary rules...

And where did you hear that?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Big Muddy rancher said:
Oldtimer said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
From what I read it that is it's business as usual. :)

My understanding is that he went ahead with the M-COOL to get it going-as setting new rules would take months---but that if the Packers/retailers don't voluntarily label products the way Congress intended- and he has directed- and try cutting corners and doing the "mixture", multiple country labeling- that he will reopen the rule setting process- and make it part of the law (which will occur sometime later anyway)...
It already sounds like some of the Packers have indicated they are going to go along with the voluntary rules...

And where did you hear that?

From all the groups that met with Vilsack...My understanding is most the packers are consigned to the fact they better follow the way the rules were intended- or that Vilsack- and Congress may even make them stricter...During his confirmation hearing- all the Congressmen (Repub and Dem) made it clear they put a lot of time and work into that law- and they want the rules following their intent.....

Already a movement to require all restaurant food too.....
 

PORKER

Well-known member
Oldtimer;From all the groups that met with Vilsack...My understanding is most the packers are consigned to the fact they better follow the way the rules were intended- or that Vilsack- and Congress may even make them stricter.

Like Bringing In 2002 Rules ?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
USDA Issues New Standards For Origin Labels On Meat Sold In US



5:29 PM, February 20, 2009

By Bill Tomson

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Agriculture Online



WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A law requiring meat to be labeled by country of

origin will go into effect as planned in March, but the government will be

asking producers to go above and beyond what the law will require of them
, the

U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday.



The rule, which the Bush administration wrote to implement the labeling law

passed by Congress last year, doesn't go far enough to inform consumers where

their food comes from, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a letter to industry

representatives.



Vilsack said some parts of the rule "raise legitimate concerns."



To address those concerns he said he was asking the meat industry to

voluntarily add more information on the labels for what they produce and keep

tighter track of inventoried products and where they came from.




"In order to provide consumers with sufficient information about the origin

of products, processors should voluntarily include information about what

production step occurred in each country when multiple countries appear on the

label
,"
Vilsack instructed meat producers.



Furthermore, under the Bush administration rule, ground-beef makers could

leave labels for inventoried product unchanged for 60 days even if they no

longer accurately reflected the origin of the meat.



"This provision allows for labels to be used in a way that does not clearly

indicate the product's country of origin," Vilsack said in the letter.

"Reducing the time allowance to 10 days would limit the amount of product with

these labels and would enhance the credibility of the label."



Vilsack said it would be a voluntary decision for industry to follow these

additional demands, but he also threatened to redo the federal rule if

companies didn't comply
.




USDA, he said, "will be closely reviewing industry compliance with the

regulation and its performance in relation to these suggestions for voluntary

action."




The American Meat Institute announced Friday that it was pleased the rule

would be implemented on schedule in March, but made no promises about

compliance with Vilsack's extra demands on industry.



AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said the "extent that companies are able and

elect to go beyond these federal labeling requirements, as requested today

by...Vilsack, is an individual company decision."



-By Bill Tomson, Dow Jones Newswires

agriculture.com



Vilsack Letter (PDF)
 

Kato

Well-known member
Interesting timing. The President visits Canada and discusses the expansion of trade between the two countries on Thursday. On Friday the announcement that there will not be changes to the final rule, just requests for voluntary information.

Interesting. :wink:
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
From Vilsack Letter

""In order to provide consumers with sufficient information about the origin

of products, processors should voluntarily include information about what

production step occurred in each country when multiple countries appear on the

label," Vilsack instructed meat producers.

How in the Hell are packers going to be able to do this from a CAN brand put on "Sometime" before crossing the border?

It's a joke OT nothing changed.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Big Muddy rancher said:
From Vilsack Letter

""In order to provide consumers with sufficient information about the origin

of products, processors should voluntarily include information about what

production step occurred in each country when multiple countries appear on the

label," Vilsack instructed meat producers.

How in the Hell are packers going to be able to do this from a CAN brand put on "Sometime" before crossing the border?

It's a joke OT nothing changed.

Raised in Canada- slaughtered in the USA...Product of Canada and the USA- Thats all folks been asking for....

Hell of a lot more honest than the USDA stamp and then passing off as US domestic product anything and everything- from Canada, Mexico, Australia, Uruguay, Asia or any of the 40 some other countries we import beef from...

And from watching how mad the Ag committee members (both Dem and Repub) were the other day with Shafers rules not following the law or the intent- something tells me that if those packer/retailer folks don't go along voluntarily- they're going to get some stricter rules stuck down their throats when Vilsack gets around to finalizing these rules as he's laid out...
 

PORKER

Well-known member
THey're going to get some stricter rules stuck down their throats when Vilsack gets around to finalizing these rules ! DITTO
 

mrj

Well-known member
Does anyone know what the specific cuts or products of beef imported from each of those "40 some other countries we import from" are?

How many countries are allowed to ship fresh beef into the USA?

Aren't COOL supporters also crying foul against the multi-nation labels on beef, including 'Product of Canada and USA'?

mrj
 

RobertMac

Well-known member
mrj said:
Does anyone know what the specific cuts or products of beef imported from each of those "40 some other countries we import from" are?

Why does it matter? Just label it honestly.

How many countries are allowed to ship fresh beef into the USA?

Why does it matter? Just label it honestly.

Aren't COOL supporters also crying foul against the multi-nation labels on beef, including 'Product of Canada and USA'?

"Born and raised in Canada, processed in USA" Just label it honestly.

mrj
 

PORKER

Well-known member
IT's an individual company decision, which will have to be made in collaboration with a company's retail grocery customers, which ultimately are the entities that provide country-of-origin information to their consumers," Vilsack said.

Vilsack has requested several additional measures in addition to those outlined in COOL legislation including information about what production step -- born, raised and slaughtered -- occurred in each country on labeling of product from animals with multiple countries of origin. Vilsack also requested that processors label products that "are subject to curing, smoking, broiling, grilling, or steaming."
 
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