KLA urges congress to repeal mCOOL — Pic of big meat packer touts…

KLA urges congress to repeal mCOOL

KLA president: mCOOL has proven to be a failed experiment

Published on June 28th, 2015

Moyer (left) and Roberts.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Mandatory country-of-origin labeling (mCOOL) has proven to be a failed experiment. Research has shown no measurable increase in consumer demand to offset the costs absorbed by the livestock and meat sectors, which has totaled $8.5 billion. That was the message delivered to the U.S. Senate Ag Committee last week by KLA President Jaret Moyer. The Emporia rancher said with the World Trade Organization ruling against U.S. mCOOL four times, the next step will be retaliation by the nation’s top two trading partners, Canada and Mexico.

“Retaliation against our exports only would make our losses worse,” said Moyer.

Moyer strongly urged Congress to take action and repeal mCOOL now. He said half-measures or other alterations to mCOOL, including an attempt to amend the current rule to replace “mandatory” with “voluntary”, would only bring more uncertainty, which is “unacceptable to the meat industry.” The KLA member policy position presented by Moyer was strongly supported in remarks from U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, chairman of the committee. Roberts said repeal of the mandatory labeling program is “the surest way to protect the U.S. economy.”

Mexican and Canadian officials further drove home this point by sending separate letters to Roberts and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the committee’s ranking member, stating retaliation is imminent unless action is taken to fully repeal mCOOL. An estimated $3.2 billion in sanctions is expected on U.S. products that range from meat and chocolate to jewelry and furniture.

— Kansas Livestock Association