Washington, D.C.—“The World Trade Organization issued a ruling today that favors global agribusiness at the expense of consumers,” said Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at the Consumer Federation of America. “Ninety percent of Americans strongly support Country-of-Origin Labeling for fresh meat. Congress and the Obama Administration should resist calls to repeal COOL and resolve this dispute through negotiations with Canada and Mexico.”

“Congress made its determination in 2008 that Country-of-Origin Labeling should be the law of the land. Weakening or eliminating current COOL law would harm American farmers and ranchers who take pride in the foods they produce. The impact of repeal would also extend beyond meat and poultry to foods ranging from fish and shellfish to fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and many nuts, which are all required to be labeled with country of origin under the law. American consumers have come to expect this information, and they believe they should have right to it, as poll after poll has shown.

“The WTO’s latest ruling on COOL illustrates the danger of this Administration’s misguided trade agenda. For years, multinational meatpacker and agribusiness corporations tried to convince legislators to repeal COOL, but policymakers listened to their constituents. Now, some members of Congress are claiming that they must heed the demands of an unaccountable foreign trade tribunal. If Congress does use the ruling as an excuse to pass legislation that repeals or weakens COOL, the President should veto it.”

Contact: Thomas Gremillion, 202-939-1010