Wyden Voices Support for Hoeven-Stabenow Voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling Bill

Press Release

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D- Ore., today announced he will cosponsor the Voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) and Trade Enhancement Act, introduced by Senators John Hoeven, R-N.D, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

"This bill is a winner for Oregon farmers and for Oregon consumers," Wyden said. "It ensures that consumers can continue to get the information they want about where their meat comes from, while also helping protect made-in-Oregon goods from Canadian and Mexican trade retaliation."

The current mandatory country-of-origin labeling program for meat was implemented following passage of the 2008 Farm Bill. Canada and Mexico successfully challenged that program at the World Trade Organization and are now seeking permission from the WTO to increase tariffs on U.S. exports. The VCOOL Act replaces the mandatory labeling requirements that were the subject of Canada and Mexico's trade challenge and establishes a new voluntary labeling program for meat sold in the United States. In so doing, the VCOOL Act fully addresses the WTO-inconsistency, while preserving key aspects of U.S. country of origin labeling, including the "Product of the U.S." label on which many consumers rely for accurate information about where their meat comes from.

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