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Ranchers.net

I brought this to the top so you would see it.
MRJ wrote:

Mike, how could be, when COOl was only to designate whether meat was imported or domestic, with NO record of past owners for the US beef? My understanding is that the animal would be "identified" as US or imported ONLY at slaughter under COOL. Is that correct or not?


MRJ, No that is NOT correct. You might need to check your sources. In order to prove "Country of Origin" in beef, one would have to prove the source of producer through every chain of custody. A complete paper trail would have been provided to the retailer, who was ultimately responsible for compliance.

I quote from the USDA documents provided by them that may be used to prove "Country of Origin", as written in the 2002 U.S. Farm Bill:

Producers-"Provide enough information for an auditor to verify the origin and ownership of the animals identified and to verify the stated designation. Properly identify and record all animals according to the designation":

1-Birth records
2-Receiving records
3-Purchase records
4-Cow/calf tag ID system
5-Sales receipts
6-Feed bills
7-Feeding records
8-Animal inventory
9-Acreage inventory
10-Sitemaps
11-APHIS VS forms
12-Production estimates
13-Health records
14-Ownership records
15-Segregation plan
16-State Brand requirements
17-Replacement activities
18-Beef Quality progam
19-Breedingstock information

"The examples of documents and records listed in this table, although extensive, are not inclusive of all documents and records that may be useful to verify compliance with the Country of Origin Labeling provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill. Additionally, maintaining documents and records such as those listed as examples will not necessarily ensure compliance. The documents listed are examples only and are for the sole purpose of providing information for producers, processors, and retailers when establishing records for verification purposes. During a compliance audit conducted by the USDA, auditors will review any and all documents to the extent necessary to arrive at an accurate decision on the level of compliance."

There are separate listings for: Producers and.............
A-Stocker/Backgrounders
B-Preconditiong/Feedlots
C-Slaughter/Fabricators
D-Fabricators/Processors
E-Distributors

MRJ, I have said it before and I will say it again: If COOL had passed as written in the 2002 Farm Bill we would have a complete tracking system in place in the USA.


Link: http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/coolbeef.pdf

You have a great day!
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