December 18, 2007

US Senate wants COOL for chickens

The US Senate has introduced legislation in the 2007 Farm Bill that would require COOL (country-of-origin labelling) for chicken meat in the US.

Although nearly 99 percent of chickens consumed in the US is home-grown, under free trade agreements the US has signed with Chile, the country may see higher chicken imports soon. China is also hoping to export processed chickens to the US, along with Thailand, a major exporter of cooked chickens.

Country-of-origin labelling for red meats is already making its way through legislation. The US already implemented country-of-origin labelling in fish and shellfish in retail food stores in April, 2005.

The farm bill will now go to a House and Senate conference committee for debate.