Newhouse: Congress Should Take A Look At COOL

Before the coronavirus pandemic, livestock producers across the U.S. were reporting low prices and challenges making ends meet. And that situation has only gotten worse thanks to COVID-19. In response, R-Calf recently started an on-line petition to have Congress immediately pass Country of Origin Labeling to help the beef, pork and dairy sectors. Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse says this issue has been debated for several years, and while there is not a unanimous opinion in the livestock industry, it is an idea worth exploring.

“It seems there is a demand on the part of the consumer, to know where their food comes from.  But the real issue now comes with the pandemic that we’re experiencing and people wanting to know where their food products are sourced.”

Newhouse noted that other Ag products use some form of country of origin labeling. He added this issue has become even more important because of the inequity between what consumers pay and what producers receive for those commodities. He noted Congress is going to need to address this issue head on.

“What solutions can be come up with in order to help fix a system that is not working for everyone?  The labeling issue, like I said, has been here for a while, but this is something that is really coming up to the forefront of something that people are taking a strong look at.”

Newhouse said it’s still unclear what support there is in D.C. for, at the very least, some type of hearings on COOL.

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