Canada-New COOL laws more acceptable to Canadian farmers.

CANADA-FARMERS HAPPY WITH NEW COOL LAWS.

Canada’s cattle and pig industries are hopeful that changes allowing greater flexibility in COOL final rule will reduce some of the uncertainty in Canadian livestock markets.

However the livestock producer groups remain opposed to mandatory COOL, and view it as trade barrier.. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) issued a press release CCA President, Brad Wildeman, stated, "At first glance of the 260-page rule, we are pleased to see that it provides the same flexibility for use of a mixed origin label on beef (or pork) derived from animals imported direct-for-slaughter, as now exists for use with a mixed origin label on products derived from United States (U.S.) origin animals.

This should provide U.S. buyers of Canadian cattle (and pigs) greater flexibility in managing their inventories." Wildeman continued, "We hope this approach enables U.S. facilities to resume accepting Canadian cattle for immediate slaughter along with Canadian-born cattle fed in the U.S. We also hope that this flexibility eliminates, or at least reduces, price discounts by U.S. packers for Canadian cattle.."

Jurgen Preugshaus, President of the Canadian Pork Council expressed to the media that he was pleased that under the final rule U.S. processors would have the ability to mingle product born in Canada with U.S. product and allow U.S. processors the ability to import slaughter hogs that are born in Canada or pigs born in Canada and raised in the U.S. and then mingle (them) under one label thereby promoting plant efficiency.