1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code 97-508 ENRUpdated June 3, 2005Country-of-Origin Labeling for FoodsGeoffrey S. BeckerSpecialist in Agricultural PolicyResources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummaryThe 2002 farm bill
2、(P.L. 107-171) as modified by the FY2004 USDA appropriation(P.L. 108-199) mandates retail country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for fresh produce, redmeats, and peanuts starting September 30, 2006, and for seafood starting September 30,2004. Some in Congress still strongly support mandatory COOL, especi
3、ally afterdiscoveries since 2003 of “mad cow” disease in four Canadian-born cattle. Otherscounter that COOL is a marketing, not an animal or human health, concern and shouldbe voluntary. This report will be updated if events warrant.BackgroundTariff Act Provisions. Under 304 of the Tariff Act of 193
4、0 as amended (19U.S.C. 1304), every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked inEnglish to indicate to the “ultimate purchaser” its country of origin. The U.S. CustomsService generally defines the “ultimate purchaser” as the last U.S. person who will receivethe article in the form in
