Industry News

House Appropriations Committee Report Advises USDA to Suspend COOL Regulations

May 30, 2014


Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations submitted a Report alongside the Agriculture FY 2015 funding bill, advising the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to suspend the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations if the United States loses the dispute case at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The chairman’s report directs, “[The] USDA not to implement or enforce the COOL final rule should the WTO issue a final ruling against the United States.”  Additionally, the report advises the USDA to, “Promptly issue a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the COOL rule is suspended until further notice if the final ruling is against the United States.” Canada requested the compliance panel at the WTO back in August 2013, indicating that the COOL regulations were overly burdensome and in non-compliance with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.  The compliance panel at the WTO is expected to issue its final report by the end of July 2014.  

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