Canada’s pork industry welcomes WTO labelling decision
A WTO arbitrator in Geneva has issued a decision award regarding the “reasonable period of time” for the implementation of the Dispute Settlement Body recommendations and rulings in the dispute “United States-Certain Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements”. The arbitrator has limited the US ten months to comply.
“The Canadian pork industry welcomes the news that the United States must by May 23, 2013 bring its Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) measure into compliance with its WTO obligations,” stated Canadian Pork Council’s Chair Jean-Guy Vincent. “The Appellate Body was clear that the COOL measure causes discrimination and that legislative changes is needed to mitigate their discriminatory effect”.
Together with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, CPC has been engaged in years of expensive time consuming challenges and litigation to end the serious discrimination posed by COOL. Vincent added, “This highly favourable result could not have been achieved without the strong and unwavering support of International Trade Minister Ed Fast and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and their officials. The dedication and excellence of Canada’s legal team and trade experts ensured that WTO dispute settlement worked as it should and could not have achieved this result without their efforts.”
Jurgen Preugschas who farms at Mayerthorpe, Alberta and CPC’s past Chair concluded, “we are looking to work with allies in Canada and Mexico, as well as the United States to find a timely and effective legislated end to this serious discrimination against Canadian feeder and slaughter hog exports. The North American hog industry is highly specialised, and was very integrated before COOL. We need to try to get back to normal as soon as possible.”
