The Department of Agriculture on July 29 issued an interim final rule for the mandatory country of origin labeling program that will become effective Sept. 30.

The rule covers muscle cuts and ground beef and includes veal, lamb, chicken, goat, and pork. The USDA implemented the COOL program for fish and shellfish covered commodities in October 2004.

Commodities covered under COOL must be labeled at retail to indicate their country of origin. They are, however, excluded from mandatory labeling if they are an ingredient in a processed food item.

The USDA has also revised the definition of a processed food item so that those derived from a covered commodity that has undergone a physical or chemical change (cooking, curing, smoking, e.g.) or that has been combined with other covered commodities or other substantive food components (chocolate, breading, tomato sauce, e.g.) are excluded from COOL labeling.

Food service establishments are exempt from the mandatory country of origin labeling requirements.

The rule outlines the requirements for labeling covered commodities. It reduces the record-keeping retention requirements for suppliers and centrally located retail records to one year and removes the requirement to maintain records at the retail store. The law provides for penalties of up to $1,000 per violation for suppliers and retailers found in violation of the law.

To allow time for covered commodities that are already in the chain of commerce—and for which no origin information is known or has been provided—to clear the system, the requirements of this rule will not apply to covered commodities produced or packaged before Sept. 30.

The rule prescribes specific criteria that must be met for a covered commodity to bear a "United States country of origin" declaration. In addition, the rule also contains provisions for labeling covered commodities of foreign origin, meat products from multiple origins, and ground meat products as well as commingled covered commodities.

The USDA plans to conduct education and outreach activities during the six months following the rule's effective date to help the industry comply with the law.

The full text of the interim final rule was published in the Aug. 1, 2008, Federal Register. Copies of the interim final rule and additional information can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/COOL.