U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, issued the following statement today regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) decision on USDA’s 2013 proposed modifications to the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law:
“The World Trade Organization has once again ruled that consumers have a right to know where their food comes from,” said Stabenow. “We can spend decades litigating this issue at the WTO, or we can work together to find a solution that encourages international trade and gives consumers what they need to make choices for their families.”
While today’s WTO announcement ruled in favor of the U.S. on the fundamental legitimacy of country of origin labeling laws, it also raised concerns about the structure of the COOL program. Sen. Stabenow is committed to protecting the legitimacy of the COOL program and move beyond the litigation for the benefit of producers, processors, and consumers.