Last week US President Barack Obama indicated that he wanted the opportunity to review a wide range of legislative changes initiated in the final days of the Bush administration, including Country of origin Labelling.

A spokesman with USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has indicated that, while Country of Origin Labelling may or may not come under review, the agency is still working toward an effective date of March 16, which is 60 days after the announcement of the final rule in the US federal register.

Canadian Pork Council executive director Martin Rice says the organization continues to monitor developments and is keeping in close touch with the Canadian embassy in Washington.

Martin Rice-Canadian Pork Council

I think the administration is aware that this kind of regulation has an important impact on the decision makers or the marketers in the industry and that clarity is important to establish as soon as possible.

The 60 days following which the final rule was announced by the Bush administration takes us into the middle of March.

So there would be a desire or an expectation that the clarification on whether or not they will re-open the rule will be made well before that.

That's just our hope.

We would look forward to any clarification or any indication from secretary Vilsack in the next week or so, if possible.

That would be very helpful.

USDA has indicated, if the Obama administration doesn't make changes, the final rule that was announced 12 January will replace the final interim rule as scheduled 16 March and will become the law.