As this blog has mentioned before, the U.S. has previously drawn much ire for its decision to implement so called “country of origin” food labels for meat shipments from Canada and Mexico. Now, as more regulations are set to go into effect to see labels give more disclosure, these neighboring countries are decrying the practice even more vocally.
Reuters reports that the dispute comes from these labeling habits, which ranchers and other meat providers claim are unfair, and in violation of World Trade Organization rules. The U.S. Department of Agriculture denies this, saying that their labels comply with an order to change the previous standards to be less discriminating.
Regardless, Canada is reportedly considering lowering American meat imports in response to the perceived stubbornness of the U.S., a move that could have repercussions for all countries involved in this conflict.
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, claims that the changes being made are not only in compliance, but will improve the current situation.
“I think our response is to be consistent with the WTO directive, and as well understand what the WTO said—that while every country has the right to label, the labeling that we had developed was not adequate,” he said.
Making labels that fulfill the regulation requirements of a given authorial body can be what distinguishes a certain producer, and affect the way other major industry players interact. Businesses are encouraged to scrupulously consider the possible ramifications of certain decisions when it comes to both designing and printing the right labels for their products.