Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

Country of Origin Update

DMT, 21/9/2004

Cam on ong Duong Minh Tri da gui tin nay de dang tren web Viet Linh

With just over two weeks to go, the nation's supermarke ts are keeping busy with last-minute details in preparation for the Department of Agriculture's massive mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) program, which includes shrimp packaging materials. Problem is, the feds still haven't published the final regulations and don't plan to before the compliance deadline of September 30, 2004.

The absurdity of complying with a law without the benefit of regulations to follow adds insult to injury for those dealing in seafood, the only commodity being forced to comply with the new labeling law.

Luckily, the law's enforcers are expected to announce a reprieve.

The National Fisheries Institute [a trade organization] expects there to be an announcement of no enforcement for up to one year as well as flexibility of existing inventories to allow the supply chain the opportunity to bring itself into compliance once a final regulation is issued, Justin LeBlanc, NFl's vice president of government affairs, told The Wave on September 10, 2004. Also, while it is true that USDA will most likely announce no enforcement, that does not mean that retailers will drop their expectations for compliance. In addition, [lawsuits] could be filed against companies that fail to comply with the law.

On September 15, 2004, the National Fisheries Institute distributed at question and answer style fact sheet on the country of origin situation. Here's the last of the eight Q&As on the fact sheet:

Are there specific marking requirements' No. The information may be displayed in any manner that is clear to the consumer and does not cover other required information with the exception that the FDA does not want to see country of origin or method of production claims in the product name or in the ingredients list. A check box system is also acceptable.

For method of production information, "wild", "wild-caught", "farm-raised" and "farmed" are all acceptable. Terms such as "ocean caught", "caught at sea", "line caught", "cultivated", "cultured", or "aquacultured" are NOT acceptable.

Information: Justin LeBlanc, National Fisheries Institute, 7918 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 700, McLean, VA 22102 USA (phone 703-752-8889, fax 703-752-7583, email jleblanc@nfi.org, webpage www.nfi.org.)