Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish

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.