Sunday, April 6, 2025

US Senate revives country-of-origin labelling for beef

A bipartisan bill reintroducing mandatory country-of-origin labelling (MCOOL) for beef has been revived in the US Senate. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Thune (R-SD) reintroduced the “American Beef Labeling Act” on 5 February 2025, aiming to restore transparency in beef product labelling.

MCOOL was initially introduced in the 2002 Farm Bill but was removed in 2016 after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that US labelling requirements for beef and pork violated trade agreements. Without MCOOL, imported beef can be labelled as a “product of the USA” even if only processed or packaged domestically.

The proposed legislation directs the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a WTO-compliant plan for reinstating MCOOL within six months of enactment, followed by another six months for implementation. USDA regulations require country-of-origin labelling for other commodities, including chicken, lamb, fish, nuts, and fresh produce.

If passed, the legislation could impact processors, suppliers, and retailers, requiring accurate labelling to reflect the entire supply chain. Ranchers may also face new certification requirements detailing where livestock were born and raised. With the current Farm Bill set to expire in September 2025, beef production and processing businesses should closely monitor developments.

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