Canada’s federal government, along with organizations representing the nation’s beef producers, has expressed apprehension regarding the recent decision made south of the border concerning “Product of USA” labels on meat, poultry, and eggs. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a final rule on Monday, March 11, 2024, outlining conditions for the voluntary use of “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” labels on meat, poultry, and egg products.
Under the new rule, these labels will only be permitted for products derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed within the United States, effective from 2026 onwards. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that this rule aims to ensure transparency for consumers, guaranteeing that every step of production, from birth to processing, occurs within America.
However, Canada’s Agriculture Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, and International Trade Minister Mary Ng issued a joint statement expressing disappointment with the rule, citing concerns about the vital trading relationship between the two countries. They highlighted the close collaboration between the meat and livestock sectors in both nations and indicated their intention to address this issue during an upcoming trilateral meeting with the United States and Mexico.
The new rule marks a significant departure from current policy, which allows the voluntary use of such labels on products from animals imported from foreign countries and slaughtered in the U.S., as well as on imported and repackaged or further processed meat. While Vilsack hailed the rule as a step towards consumer protection and marketplace fairness, Canadian officials and industry representatives voiced concerns about potential disruptions to the integrated North American meat and livestock supply chains.
The Canadian Cattle Association, representing beef farms and feedlots, labeled the rule as “the most onerous standard in the world” and warned of its potential negative impact on cattle and beef trade between Canada and the U.S. Notably, these voluntary labeling rules differ from the now-defunct country-of-origin labels (COOL), which required disclosure of where animals supplying beef and pork were born, raised, and slaughtered.