COOL webinar helps industry prepare for looming deadline
COOL webinar helps industry prepare for looming deadline
Two produce trade groups teamed up June 24 to host a webinar in an attempt to clear up some of the confusion about the upcoming country-of-origin labeling law due to go into effect later this fall.
In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to release the latest interpretation of the just-passed farm bill with the much-favored labeling changes. Before that, buyers and sellers of fresh produce must prepare packaging and signage to comply with the Sept. 30 deadline for country-of- origin labeling.
"We understand the industry doesn't have enough time to prepare. It's not the best timing for you," Matt McInerney, executive vice president of Western Growers Association, said during the June 24 webinar that was organized by WGA and the Produce Marketing Association.
"We are hoping for a one-year implementation period," added Thomas Deardorff II, president of Deardorff Family Farms and co-chair of the PMA- WGA task force.
USDA gave the seafood industry time to revamp packaging before inspectors conducted in-store labeling checks. But companies should take steps now, as current packaging inventories are being worked down, webinar facilitators said.
In the latest farm bill, Congress approved a carefully worded compromise that eased the burden placed on retailers and fresh produce companies to implement a labeling law against which retailers fought. The new law allows state and regional labeling programs to satisfy the COOL requirement, adds nuts to the list of commodities that must have COOL information, reduces fines, and dictates that no new records be required to comply with the law.
PMA and WGA briefed the industry on new best-management practices developed by a joint task force to help head off urgent demands from buyers to comply with past USDA regulations that were changed by Congress in the new farm bill.
Mr. Deardorff urged suppliers to provide country-of-origin labeling as close to the first shipping point as possible and to use existing labeling vehicles -- such as PLU stickers, bands or twist ties -- to let consumers know the product is from the United States or another country.
He said that suppliers should put the country of origin on the master shipping containers, which is already a common practice in the industry but one that must become a regular habit.
On recordkeeping, the two associations are recommending suppliers use the bill of lading, not an invoice, to identify the origin of products because that document is likely to stay with the commodity throughout distribution. There does not appear to be a requirement for an audit trail, so no third- party audit is needed, said Mr. McInerney. The bill of lading will satisfy the need for audits.
For bulk products that cannot be individually labeled, retailers will handle the signage and rely on the master cartons to document country of origin at the store level, said Mike O'Brien, vice president of produce and floral for Schnuck Markets and co-chair of the PMA-WGA labeling task force.
One company said that it already agreed to demands for a USDA audit for labeling, though Kathy Means, PMA's vice president of government relations, said there is no requirement for such an audit at this time.
Several suppliers said that they were getting conflicting requests, as some buyers demanded products be labeled "Product of USA" while others want the product labeled by the growing state. One company said that its quality- control staff would reject shipments if the products are not labeled by country and state.
Ms. Means said that PMA has been sending information on the new best- practices guidelines to its members, but the bottom line is that retailers can ask for both, though it's not necessary in order to comply with the law. The webinar also uncovered thorny issues that must wait until USDA regulations are ironed out, such as how to label blended items and the definition of processed foods.
In the meantime, the groups plan to update the COOL guidelines once USDA issues an interim final rule next month.
More than 380 sites were registered for the June 24 webinar, proving that there is a lot of interest in this timely topic, said Theresa Zuroick, PMA's public relations coordinator.
In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to release the latest interpretation of the just-passed farm bill with the much-favored labeling changes. Before that, buyers and sellers of fresh produce must prepare packaging and signage to comply with the Sept. 30 deadline for country-of- origin labeling.
"We understand the industry doesn't have enough time to prepare. It's not the best timing for you," Matt McInerney, executive vice president of Western Growers Association, said during the June 24 webinar that was organized by WGA and the Produce Marketing Association.
"We are hoping for a one-year implementation period," added Thomas Deardorff II, president of Deardorff Family Farms and co-chair of the PMA- WGA task force.
USDA gave the seafood industry time to revamp packaging before inspectors conducted in-store labeling checks. But companies should take steps now, as current packaging inventories are being worked down, webinar facilitators said.
In the latest farm bill, Congress approved a carefully worded compromise that eased the burden placed on retailers and fresh produce companies to implement a labeling law against which retailers fought. The new law allows state and regional labeling programs to satisfy the COOL requirement, adds nuts to the list of commodities that must have COOL information, reduces fines, and dictates that no new records be required to comply with the law.
PMA and WGA briefed the industry on new best-management practices developed by a joint task force to help head off urgent demands from buyers to comply with past USDA regulations that were changed by Congress in the new farm bill.
Mr. Deardorff urged suppliers to provide country-of-origin labeling as close to the first shipping point as possible and to use existing labeling vehicles -- such as PLU stickers, bands or twist ties -- to let consumers know the product is from the United States or another country.
He said that suppliers should put the country of origin on the master shipping containers, which is already a common practice in the industry but one that must become a regular habit.
On recordkeeping, the two associations are recommending suppliers use the bill of lading, not an invoice, to identify the origin of products because that document is likely to stay with the commodity throughout distribution. There does not appear to be a requirement for an audit trail, so no third- party audit is needed, said Mr. McInerney. The bill of lading will satisfy the need for audits.
For bulk products that cannot be individually labeled, retailers will handle the signage and rely on the master cartons to document country of origin at the store level, said Mike O'Brien, vice president of produce and floral for Schnuck Markets and co-chair of the PMA-WGA labeling task force.
One company said that it already agreed to demands for a USDA audit for labeling, though Kathy Means, PMA's vice president of government relations, said there is no requirement for such an audit at this time.
Several suppliers said that they were getting conflicting requests, as some buyers demanded products be labeled "Product of USA" while others want the product labeled by the growing state. One company said that its quality- control staff would reject shipments if the products are not labeled by country and state.
Ms. Means said that PMA has been sending information on the new best- practices guidelines to its members, but the bottom line is that retailers can ask for both, though it's not necessary in order to comply with the law. The webinar also uncovered thorny issues that must wait until USDA regulations are ironed out, such as how to label blended items and the definition of processed foods.
In the meantime, the groups plan to update the COOL guidelines once USDA issues an interim final rule next month.
More than 380 sites were registered for the June 24 webinar, proving that there is a lot of interest in this timely topic, said Theresa Zuroick, PMA's public relations coordinator.
