The final rule for all commodities covered under COOL went into effect on March 16, 2009. Nearly a year later, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Health Services Division checked in on a number of stores in the state. Here is what they found:
During the review, 12 stores from cities including Cheyenne, Casper, Jackson, Lovell, Laramie, Sundance Greybull, Mountain View and Rock Springs. The reviews were confidential and found that most stores were in compliance, and those who weren’t only had minimal problems.
“There are consumers out there who want to know where their food is coming from and the COOL regulation is one of the ways to do that,” said Dean Finkenbinder, Manager of the Consumer Health Services. “Our inspectors traveled across the state and were very happy with the reviews of the stores involved.”
The review process started last May when the USDA Agriculture Marketing Services sent the WDA a confidential list of stores that were to be reviewed. Once the list was received, CHS inspectors traveled across the state to perform the three hour review of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish products labeling and signage. Upon completion of the reviews last November, the results were sent back to the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service for enforcement.
“The USDA contracts us to perform the reviews on their behalf,” said Finkenbinder. “We are proud to say that the stores involved in the first review cycle performed very well.”
According to the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service, Country of Origin Labeling is a labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouse stores to notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. Food products contained in the law include muscle cut and ground meats: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng. The COOL rule went into effect on March 16, 2009. AMS is responsible for administration and enforcement of COOL.
The next round of reviews will include 18 stores and will be completed by June 1, 2010.
Source: Wyoming Department of Agriculture
Posted by Haylie Shipp