Last Friday, the COOL Reform Coalition sent a letter to Congress emphasizing the need for a contingency plan for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and highlighting Secretary Tom Vilsack’s request for direction from Congress.  

IDFA and members are active in the COOL Reform Coalition, which promotes reforms to the COOL requirements to ensure that they are compliant with international trade obligations.

The coalition is building awareness that the WTO ruling against the United States authorizes Mexico and Canada to retaliate broadly against all U.S. exports, including dairy.

Visit the COOL Reform Coalition website for more information, including the map showing the products from every state that could be affected. It also offers an online letter that members can send to Congress asking for intervention to prevent retaliation.

​Members may login to read "WTO Rules Against United States on Revised Country of Origin Labeling," a memorandum prepared by Hogan Lovells US LLP, IDFA's legal counsel.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.

List of COOL Reform Coalition members:

Agri Beef Co.
American Bakers Association
American Beverage Association
American Feed Industry Association
American Frozen Food Institute
American Soybean Association
American Peanut Product Manufacturers, Inc.
Animal Health Institute
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association
California Strawberry Commission
California Walnut Commission
Campbell Soup Company
Canadian Beverage Association
Cargill, Incorporated
The Coca-Cola Company
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Corn Refiners Association
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Food and Consumer Products of Canada
Food Marketing Institute
General Mills, Inc.
Grocery Manufacturers Association
The Hershey Company
Hillshire Brands
H.J. Heinz Company
Hormel Foods Corporation
Ingredion Incorporated
International Dairy Foods Association
International Franchise Association
International Sleep Products Association
Kellogg Company
Kraft Foods Group, Inc.
Mars, Incorporated
Midwest Food Processors Association
Mondelez Global LLC
National Association of Manufacturers
National Beef Packing Co., LLC
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
National Confectioners Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Foreign Trade Council
National Grain and Feed Association
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Pork Producers Council
National Renderers Association
Nestle USA
Nestle Waters North America
North American Blueberry Council
North American Equipment Dealers Association
North American Export Grain Association
North American Meat Association
Northwest Horticultural Council
PepsiCo
Remy International Inc.
Roquette America
Smithfield Foods
Snack Food Association
Sweetener Users Association
Tate & Lyle
Tyson Foods, Inc.
United Producers, Inc.
USA Rice Federation
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Dairy Export Council
U.S. Grains Council
U.S. Premium Beef, LLC
Wine Institute