AquaContacts Mail Group News
October 6, 2004, Number 1
[Federal Register: October 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 192)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 59707-59750]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05oc04-13]
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Part IV
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 60
[No. LS-03-04]
RIN 0581-AC26
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill)
and the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act (2002 Appropriations)
amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act) to direct the
Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations by September 30,
2004, requiring retailers to notify their customers of the country of
origin of covered commodities. Covered commodities include muscle cuts
of beef (including veal), lamb, and pork; ground beef, ground lamb, and
ground pork; farm-raised fish and shellfish; wild fish and shellfish;
perishable agricultural commodities; and peanuts. The FY 2004
Consolidated Appropriations Act (2004 Appropriations) (Public Law 108-
199) delayed the applicability of mandatory country of origin labeling
(COOL) for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and
shellfish until September 30, 2006. After issuance of a proposed rule,
the Department has decided to provide further opportunity to comment
due to the changes made as a result of comments received and the costs
associated with this rule. This interim final rule contains
definitions, the requirements for consumer notification and product
marking, and the recordkeeping responsibilities of both retailers and
suppliers for fish and shellfish covered commodities. Regulatory
provisions for the other covered commodities will be provided in a
separate regulatory action as appropriate.
The full document can be viewed at the USDA AMS site at:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/COOL/ls0304ifr.pdf
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