WASHINGTON, DC – The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) issued a statement in support of an amendment filed July 23 by Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling.

“The North American Meat Institute supports full and simple repeal of mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, pork, and chicken included in Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts’ amendment filed today," said NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter.

Carpenter added that anything short of repeal will be costly not only to the meat-processing industry.   

"More important than what we think is what the Canadian and Mexican governments think given that they have prevailed four times before the World Trade Organization in their complaint against mandatory COOL. Without a swift and decisive solution, they will soon impose $3 billion in retaliatory tariffs that will hit American businesses and consumers hard, he said.  

The COOL Reform Coalition echoed NAMI's support of Roberts' amendment.

"This amendment mirrors the action taken by the U.S. House last month when it passed HR 2393," said the coalition in a statement, "and its enactment will bring the United States into compliance with obligations it has undertaken as a member of the World Trade Organization."

Carpenter concluded: "We can’t afford to waste precious time debating proposals other than full and simple repeal. Anything else jeopardizes important segments of the US economy and ultimately our consumers.”