| Industry Analysis, Business Plan & Environmental News :: 2010 |
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Jan. 14, 2010 >> AMI to USTR: COOL violates international trade obligations
By Tom Johnston on 1/11/2010
The American Meat Institute on Friday told the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that mandatory country-of-origin labeling violates U.S. international trade obligations.
The comments were provided in response to a Dec. 4, 2009, Federal Register notice. Canada and Mexico late last year filed a case against the United States asking the World Trade Organization to rule on the legality of U.S. COOL law.
AMI Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel Mark Dopp said equitable enforcement of international trade rules is a high priority for all parties.
"Critical to the United States' ability to enforce successfully World Trade Organization (WTO) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) obligations is consistency in U.S. behavior and actions," Dopp said in the submitted comments. "In that regard, the United States' credibility is undermined when U.S. legislation violates America's commitments pursuant to those international agreements. In the instant case, the U.S. COOL requirements…are not consistent with U.S. obligations under both WTO and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade ("GATT") and NAFTA."
COOL is inconsistent with trade agreements because of its discriminatory effect on imported meat and imported live animals, AMI said.
"COOL is de facto discrimination against foreign products, a result even contemplated by sponsors of the legislation who declared that it would be 'helpful to a lot of American agricultural producers' and force companies to rely 'on our independent producers here in this country,'" Dopp said.
To view Dopp's comments, click here
Jan. 6, 2010 >> Web Site
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service - COOL Grocery Labeling
Country of Origin Labeling is a labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouse stores, notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. Food products, (covered commodities) contained in the law include muscle cut and ground meats: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng. Regulations for fish and shellfish covered commodities (7 CFR Part 60) became effective in 2005. The final rule for all covered commodities (7 CFR Part 60 and Part 65) went into effect on March 16, 2009. AMS-USDA is responsible for administration and enforcement of COOL.
Jan. 4, 2010 >> from the Toronto Star; Corporate Strategy & Social Networking in the future Economy ; click here.
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