COOL heating up?

As if the industry didn't have enough on its plate comes word of the introduction of S. 404 on Jan. 26, a bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the implementation of country of origin labeling requirements by September 30, 2007. Of course, that is a year earlier than it is scheduled to take effect under current law. The fresh produce industry - or perhaps its Congressional allies - have been slow to put forward a promised voluntary version of COOL that would repeal the mandatory law.

Here is a link to the bill. The chief sponsor is Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo.. and it already boasts eight co-sponsors.