COOL - Mandatory Date Arrives
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) became
mandatory September 30, 2008, for all covered
commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and
shellfish. COOL for wild and farm-raised fish
and shellfish became effective April 4, 2005.
COOL originated in the 2002 Farm Bill as a
marketing provision. The Bill amended the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require
retailers to notify customers of country of
origin for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable
agricultural commodities, and peanuts. The 2008
Farm Bill included provisions to amend COOL to
also cover chicken, goat, macadamia nuts,
pecans, and ginseng; the latter Bill also added
provisions for labeling products of multiple
origin.
On August 1, 2008, an interim final rule for
COOL was published in the Federal Register to
provide the newly affected industries the
opportunity to comment.
Covered commodities produced or packaged before
September 30, 2008, are not required to comply
with COOL regulations.
Read
interim final rule.
Commentary: COOL requirements are
complex; the interim final rule is a must-read
for stakeholders with any of the covered foods.
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