May 1, 2008

American Meat Institute rolls out new country-of-origin labeling website

WASHINGTON, DC, April 30, 2008 ?The American Meat Institute today unveiled an updated version of its country-of-origin labeling (COOL) website, www.countryoforiginlabel.org. 

The US is mandatory labelling laws is scheduled to go into effect on September 30, 2008.

The new site contains a summary of information about the implementation of country-of-origin labeling (COOL)

as it exists under the law as enacted in 2002. The site also includes information relating to possible changes that may occur through passage of the 2008 Farm Bill. The Senate and House of Representatives have passed bills that, if enacted, would amend the 2002 law.

Those two bills have not been reconciled, nor has a bill been presented to and signed by the President to change the 2002 law. Thus, the information contained on the site should be viewed as general guidance and not specific recommendations.   

Sections include information about who needs to label products, how to determine what meat products need a label, labeling categories, information on international trade, and a support desk that links visitors to USDA and AMI experts who can help explain the details of the law.