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On May 13, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, more commonly known as the 2002 Farm Bill. One of its many initiatives requires country of origin labeling for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts. On January 27, 2004, President Bush signed Public Law 108-199 which delays the implementation of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2006.  As described in the legislation, program implementation is the responsibility of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. 

Federal Register Rulemaking

  • Proposed Rule -extension of comment period; correction- Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts  [PDF] [Text]
  • Proposed Rule - Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts - [PDF] [Text]
  • January 22, 2003 - Notice of Request for Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection - [Text] [PDF]

  • November 21 - Notice of Request for Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection - [Text]  [PDF]
  • October 11 - Guidelines for Interim Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling - [Text]  [PDF]

News Releases

Farm Bill Language

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