Alberta Fights for Livestock Industry in Washington
US - Alberta’s Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Verlyn Olson will meet with US legislators to encourage them to end the US mandatory Country of Origin Labelling rules.
20 November 2013
2 minute read
Minister Olson is meeting with US legislators and industry representatives on 19 to 21 November 2013, in Washington D.C. This follows his successful meetings in Chicago with American meat-packers earlier this month and International and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Cal Dallas’s constructive meetings with officials in the US capital on 13 November.
"Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) is an unfair regulation that Alberta and Canada oppose. American legislators are debating the Farm Bill. Through the Farm Bill, US legislators can put an end to the economic harm COOL is creating throughout North America. Now is the time to push for change," said Minister Olson.
COOL requires that meat derived from animals born, reared or slaughtered outside the US must be labelled to indicate the country or countries involved. COOL has resulted in extra tracking and segregation costs for Canadian hogs and cattle exported to the US.
The estimated cost of the trip, including meals, accommodation and travel for Minister Olson and one staff member is $6,500.
