Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
Overview
Under the Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. §§ 1202-1681b, nearly every item imported into the United States must indicate to the ultimate purchaser its country of origin. Many imported agricultural products are either exempted from coverage of the Act or are deemed to have undergone sufficient additional manufacturing or processing so that they become products of the United States and therefore do not require labeling. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-171 § 10816, 116 Stat. 134, 533-35, amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1621-1637b (amendments to be codified at 7 U.S.C. §§ 1638-1638d), to require retail level country of origin labeling (COOL) for shellfish, peanuts, fruits, vegetables, and various meats. This change will inform consumers at the final point of sale of a covered commodity's origins.
Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1621-1638d
COOL Provisions, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1638-1638d
Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. §§ 1202-1681b
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, Pub. L. No. 108-199, § 749, 118 Stat. 3, __ (2004)
(postponing implementation of COOL until September 30, 2006)
Regulations
Country of Origin Labeling for Fish and Shellfish, 7 C.F.R. pt. 60
United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Country of Origin Marking Regulations,
19 C.F.R. §§ 134.0-134.55
Food Safety Inspection Service Imported Products Labeling Regulations,
9 C.F.R. §§ 327.14-327.15
Food Safety Inspection Service Imported Poultry Products Labeling Regulations,
9 C.F.R. §§ 381.204-381.206
Federal Register Rules Open for Comment
Center published Federal Register Digest
Case Law
Note: Recently summarized cases are listed and linked in Recent Postings.
Case Law Index for Country of Origin Labeling (Cool)
Center Research Publications
State-Level Catfish Labeling Laws (Springsteen, 2008)
Congressional Research Service Reports
CRS Subject(s):
International Agriculture/Trade Issues
Commodities
Animal Agriculture
Reference Resources
USDA
Country-of-Origin Labeling: Examples of Records(Agricultural Marketing Service)
Country-of-Origin Labeling: Theory and Observation (Krissoff et al., ERS, 2004)
Country of Origin Labeling (Agricultural Marketing Service)
Country of Origin Labeling (Economic Research Service)
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Imported Fresh Muscle Cuts of Beef or Lamb
(Food Safety and Inspection Service; January 2000)
Other Congressional Resources
Country of Origin Labeling (Government Accountability Office)
Other Federal Resources
FDA/ORA Compliance Policy Guides, Sec. 560.200 Country of Origin Labeling (CPG 7119.02)
(Updated 2005)
Publications
Country-of-Origin Labeling and the Beef Industry (Anderson & Capps, 2004)
Country of Origin Labeling: A Legal and Economic Analysis (International Agricultural
Trade and Policy Center, VanSickle et al., 2003)
Country of Origin Labeling (McEowen, 2003)
Additional Resources
Country of Origin Labeling from A to Z (American Meat Institute)
Country-of-Origin Labeling (NewRules.org)
Country- of-Origin Labeling (COOL) Livestock-Based Website (KS St. U.)
Country of Origin Labeling (farms.com)
