A webinar on country-of-origin labelling compliance organised by the Produce Marketing Association and Western Growers has revealed widespread confusion amongst US produce industry about the new rules, due to come into effect on 30 September.
Amongst the chief concerns of suppliers and retailers was the level of documentation required. The USDA said it would allow origin information to be provided on master containers, documentation or the product itself. However, the PMA recommends that its members use all three methods where possible.
Companies also sought clarification on how to label co-mingled products such as bagged salads that included lettuce and carrots. While items such as lettuce and salad dressing fall within the definition of processed foods and are therefore exempt from the COOL rules, products containing a mix of two types of melon for example were a “grey area” that would need to be clarified when officials began enforcing the regulations, according to a spokesman from the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
The industry has been given six months in which to get used to the new rules. AMS administrator Lloyd Day said the USDA would focus on education and outreach, not enforcement during that period.
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