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The revised rules for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) have been released. We've compiled information from a number of resources to help you determine how the new COOL rules will affect you.

Paul H-C
Paul H-C

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August 5th, 2008
Volume 4 Issue 176

COOL Rules Release

The American Meat Institute unveiled an updated Country of Original Labeling website. http://www.countryoforiginlabel.org we have excerpted some key points below. Our thanks to the AMI for providing this informative resource.

One of the key features of the site is some answers to common questions like "Does a Meat Product Need a Label?":

Work through this set of questions and you should be able to determine whether COOL applies to the products you make.

A meat product from beef (including veal), pork, lamb, chicken or goat must bear a COOL label or is subject to labeling providing COOL information if:

1. It is sold at retail
AND
2. It is a muscle cut, or
3. It is a ground product

The product is EXEMPT from COOL labeling requirements if:

1. The meat product is sold at foodservice (e.g., restaurants, institutions, etc.),
  OR
2. The meat product has undergone specific processing resulting in a change of character (e.g. cooking, curing, smoking or restructuring) or has been combined with at least one other covered commodity or other substantive food component. The exemption includes, for example, the following:

a. Hot dogs and sausages
b. Lunch meat
c. Cooked products
d. Breaded products
e. Cured products 
f.  Products in which the meat is an ingredient (e.g., spaghetti sauce with meat)
g. Fabricated steak
h. Meatloaf
i.  Marinated pork tenderloin
Thinking Inside the Box

Recordkeeping Requirements

Additional information on the COOL Rules can be found on the AMI website and the USDA has provided several resources for assistance.

1. To find out if a specific product is a covered commodity or is labeled accurately, email cool@usda.gov.

2. The Agricultural Marketing Service has extensive information online that gives an overview of COOL