The World Trade Organization (WTO) last year ruled that the US Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law violates US trade obligations under the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. Canada and Mexico brought cases on COOL to the WTO in 2011.

The international trade body gave the United States until 23 May 2013, to make its meat labeling law compliant with WTO rules. In the wake of the WTO decision, USDA issued proposed regulations changing the labeling law.

In discussing the proposed regulations, Canadian officials this week threatened retaliation against US products because they maintain the regulations won’t make COOL comply with WTO rules.

“The United States must avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico,” said NPPC President Randy Spronk, a pork producer from Edgerton, Minnesota. “The United States should make sure our meat labeling law complies with our international trade obligations. Retaliatory tariffs on pork by Canada or Mexico would be financially devastating to US pork producers.”

NPPC supports an approach to labeling that provides important information to consumers, complies with US international trade obligations and does not undermine US meat supply chains and unnecessarily raise costs. Specifically, NPPC supports an approach that will treat as “US origin” hogs, pork and other meat products that have value added at federally inspected facilities. The requirement that producers gather and maintain information on where livestock was born and raised should be eliminated.

At a minimum, said NPPC in its comments – the deadline for which was yesterday (11 April) – if USDA moves forward with the proposed regulations, it should establish an effective date that is 180 days after the latter of issuance of final regulations, or of a determination by the WTO that the final regulations are consistent with US international trade obligations.