“Any changes to the voluntary ‘Product of USA’ labelling regulations creates risks to North American meat and livestock sectors by adding new regulations to a sector seeking regulatory simplicity,” said Rene Roy, chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Pork Council.
The reaction is to a proposal from the United States Department of Agriculture outlining how the meat industry could use voluntary County of Origin labeling.
It comes after two previous mandated labeling regulations were struck down by disputes-settling panels, but not before the rules depressed Canadian hog and pork prices that cost billions of dollars and the Canadian industry spend millions on lawyer and consulting fees.
“As primary producers, we already face significant challenges with profitability on both sides of the border, and our history of working together indicates this is a solution to a problem we don’t have,” Roy said.
Canada-U.S. meat and livestock supply chain integration means consumers benefit from more affordable, high-quality meat products, while producers benefit from efficient, and competitive markets.
The segregation of Canadian and U.S. products through the proposed new measures is introducing unnecessary expenditures, causing an increase in prices to consumers and increased challenges to retailers and small- and medium-sized enterprises on both sides of the border, the council said.
“The world is combating supply chain challenges, food inflation and food scarcity – now is not the time to set up new barriers in successful trading relationships,” Roy said.
“We intend to join the Government of Canada in reviewing the proposed rule carefully.
“We will also participate in the U.S. rule-making process to ensure any new definitions and rules do not restrict trade or disrupt supply chains, or cause increased prices, for consumers in Canada or in the United States,” Roy said.
