Congress repeals country of origin labelling law in new spending bill

The long-disputed Country of Origin Labelling law was repealed in the $1.15 trillion federal spending bill passed Friday.

According to McLean's, this move has prevented a possible trade war between the United States and Canada. COOL comprises two pages in the 2,000-plus pages of the legislation. It has been a major factor that increases tension in trade among the US, Canada, and Mexico. President Barack Obama signed the bill Friday.

The World Trade Organization gave Canada and Mexico the authority to charge $1 billion in punitive tariffs on different U.S. firms that have violated the international trade rules regarding the country-of-origin labelling provisions on pork and beef products.

The Center for Food Safety commended the Congress for excluding the policy rider in the omnibus spending bill, which would have disregarded genetically engineered (GE) food labelling laws.

"We are very pleased that Congress has apparently decided not to undermine Americans' right to know about the food they purchase and feed their families," said Center for Food Safety executive director Andrew Kimbrell in a report by EcoWatch.

"Adding a rider to the budget bill that would nullify state laws requiring labelling and even forbidden federal agencies from mandating labelling would have been profoundly undemocratic and nothing short of legislative malfeasance. We will remain vigilant over the coming days and into the next legislative session to ensure our right to know is protected."

MT-based cattle trade association R-CALF USA said that Section 179 of the spending bill takes away the rights of the US citizen to know where the beef and pork of the meat products they buy came from, according to a report by Food Safety News.

"Congress did this and the President concurred without any congressional debate, let alone public debate," said R-CALF USA. "Section 179 was cemented into the massive spending bill behind closed doors."

Meanwhile, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association considers the repeal of COOL as a great victory for US cattle producers.