R-Calf and CPoW File Suit Over COOL

The Cattle Producers of Washington, in partnership with R-CALF, have filed a lawsuit in federal court asking that the country of origin labeling, or COOL, laws that pertain to foreign meat carrying a label all the way to the consumer be reinstated.

The suit claims the USDA is violating the law by not requiring meatpackers to label the meat if it comes from other countries and that meatpackers are even permitted to remove labels despite that it’s against U.S. law.

The groups state that the USDA permits meat that comes in from foreign countries is permitted to be labeled as Product of the U.S.A. because it is processed in this country, even if its origin is outside of the U.S.

COOL laws were repealed by Congress after trade disputes that went all the way to the World Trade Organization.

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