Processing Definition Under M-COOL Called For

CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council is encouraging the U. S. Department of Agriculture to allow the broadest possible definition of processing when it begins enforcing new Country of Origin Labelling rules, writes Bruce Cochrane.
calendar icon 25 August 2008
clock icon 3 minute read

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its interim final rule for Country of Origin Labelling July 29 and is accepting public comments on the proposal until September 30.

Although Mandatory COOL is scheduled to take effect September 30, USDA has indicated it will conduct education and outreach during the six months following the rule's effective date to allow industry to comply.

Canadian Pork Council executive director Martin Rice says, in its submission, the CPC will be calling for the broadest possible interpretation of processing.

Martin Rice-Canadian Pork Council

We're going to be supportive of the flexibility that has been introduced into the Mandatory Country or Origin Labelling regulations.

As a result of changes the made to the U.S. farm bill this year the record keeping requirements are much less onerous than what would have been the case under the 2002 farm bill and there certainly is much more accommodation of existing market chains or value chains.

We'll also be very supportive of allowing this period of education, sensitization, before the regulations become strictly enforced.

And we'll also be encouraging the maximum opportunity for the processing definition to be available for processors.

Pork that goes into processing is not subject to COOL, nor is pork used in food service or pork that is exported from the U.S. so we would be looking at maximizing opportunities to have the pork considered as processed.


Rice suggests that could include pork that has been marinated or has otherwise been enhanced to make it more consumer user friendly.

He says, right now, those may not be considered as constituting processing but CPC will be arguing they should.

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