- Mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) rules for beef products have long been the subject of controversy and challenge, culminating in a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that the COOL requirements violate U.S. trade obligations to Canada and Mexico, and Congress repealing COOL as of December 21, 2015. Several states have since attempted to require retail meat products to bear a country-of-origin label. A state senator recently introduced such a bill in South Dakota.
- Earlier this week, South Dakota’s legislature squashed the proposed COOL bill for meat sold in the state.
- Given the fact that COOL was repealed at the federal level in December 2015, it is unlikely that state COOL efforts will be successful in the near term. Nevertheless, this remains a topic of interest to industry and worth continued monitoring.
South Dakota Scraps Attempted COOL Comeback
South Dakota Scraps Attempted COOL Comeback
Friday, February 24, 2017