COOL change

What happened to the industry's compromise position on country of origin labeling? The industry plan called for voluntary labeling as long as 90% of the top 20 fruits and vegetables were labeled for origin at retail. Failing to meet that threshold, over time, would trigger mandatory COOL.

While industry lobbyists many never give up on the compromise until the bitter end, it doesn't look like it has a great shot of advancing at this point. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. and chair of the House Appropriations ag subcommittee, wants COOL to stay mandatory, though she is reportedly open to listen to industry concerns.

The political landscape now seems to say the country of origin labeling law will be mandatory and it will happen in 2008. China's misadventures with food safety can probably credited with the current dynamics. The industry's best shot now may lies showering the USDA with comments (the agency has reopened its comment period until Aug. 20) on how to make the law more workable and less expensive to implement.

Here is the link to the AMS page on country of origin labeling rulemaking.