Bill > S1844

This bill, titled the Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and Trade Enhancement Act of 2015, amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to change how the country of origin for beef, pork, and chicken is labeled for consumers. Instead of the current mandatory system, which requires retailers to inform consumers about the origin of these meats, this bill makes country of origin labeling for raw, single-ingredient beef, pork, and chicken voluntary. This means that a "packer," which is defined as an entity involved in the meat processing industry, can choose to label these products as exclusively having a U.S. country of origin, but only if they meet specific requirements. The bill also clarifies that no federal or state agency can enforce labeling requirements for U.S. origin that are less strict than or inconsistent with these new voluntary provisions.