Farm-Scape is sponsored by Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork Play Audio Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1378

The Canadian Pork Council says it will issue an official response, by the end of next month, to the release of a proposed final US Country of Origin Labelling regulation.

US Country of Origin Labelling, under which red meats, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts will be required to be labelled according to where it comes from, is due to become mandatory in September 2004.

Last week the US Department of Agriculture released its proposed final regulation.

Canadian Pork Council Executive Director Martin Rice says, as earlier feared by players within the US industry as well groups involved in exporting to the US, this will represent a significant cost to the red meat industry.

"The USDA is staying with its earlier interpretation that this law will require very significant record keeping efforts on the part of all players in the distribution chain.

Retailers will be required to demonstrate how they know what country this is coming from. That, in turn, implies a lot of record keeping on the part of all of their suppliers not just the importers but their domestic suppliers as well.

We will take advantage of opportunities to provide input to the US Department of Agriculture on the disadvantages that this law imposes not only for Canadian exporters but for US meat industry participants.

The comment period is 60 days so, toward the end of December, we will be putting in views which I believe will be similar to those we put in earlier cases.

As I mentioned, the regulation looks very similar to what USDA has put out before".

Rice says the USDA has made it clear that it doesn't see room for much latitude on this matter and that it will need to be looking for very substantial record keeping and other compliance requirements.