COOL program causes stir amongst livestock groups

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

February 3, 2014

1 Min Read
Livestock, Poultry and Meat Groups Opposed Farm Bill

A number of major livestock, poultry and meat organizations opposed final passage of the farm bill because of the conference committee’s failure to address Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL). In a letter to the conferees, the group said, “We are also disappointed that a WTO-compliant resolution to mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) was not reached, particularly in the face of retaliatory actions by the governments of Mexico and Canada. This retaliation will be crippling to our industries and threaten the long-term relationship with two of our most important export markets.  COOL is a broken program that has only added costs to our industries without any measurable benefit for America’s livestock producers.” Those signing the letter were the American Meat Institute, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation and North American Meat Association. The National Farmers Union, Consumers Federation of America and U.S. Cattlemen opposed any changes to COOL and keeping the current COOL requiremennts.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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