Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)

AMS provides regulatory oversight of the Country of Labeling (COOL) law and its associated regulations.  COOL is a food labeling law that requires certain food commodities to be labeled with country-of-origin information and for specific commodities, the method of production used.  The purpose is to ensure that consumers have an opportunity to make informed decisions about the food that they buy.

The primary labeling requirements under COOL include:

• ensuring that origin declarations are legible in a conspicuous place on or attached to the product (placards, signs, labels, or bands), and 
• maintaining records substantiating the product origin for at least one year.

AMS works to create fair and competitive markets for American businesses and the COOL program fulfills that goal by ensuring a level playing field for producers, processors, and retailers.  The law also allows families to make informed choices with confidence, about the food they purchase to consume, through clear and accurate onsite information.

How the COOL Program Works

The COOL program is administered through cooperative agreements with State agencies.  The purpose of these agreements is to create a national regulatory framework that facilitates retail surveillance reviews conducted at specified retail establishments throughout the United States.

Under the cooperative agreements, State Agency agrees to:

1. conduct retail surveillance reviews at stores within their jurisdictions, 
2. verify that covered commodities are properly labeled with country-of-origin information, and 
3. submit findings of noncompliance to AMS for investigation and follow-up.

AMS Agrees to:

1. train State regulatory officials to conduct reviews and ensure that they understand COOL requirements authorize State officials to conduct retail reviews and gather information from retailers,
2. issue written notices or warnings to retail establishments involved with COOL violations, and
3. conduct supplier audits to verify the accuracy of origin claims.

Together, USDA AMS and its State partners work to ensure the public that covered commodities sold at retail locations throughout the country are truthfully labeled.  The collaborative activities also create a fair and competitive market for businesses by ensuring that all retailers and suppliers follow the same rules.

Retail Surveillance Reviews

Retail surveillance reviews are the core of the COOL program.  AMS and State partners conduct reviews at retail establishments to verify compliance with COOL regulations.

Retail establishments such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets, and warehouse club stores, who are subject to the licensing requirements under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), are required to provide COOL information to consumers at the point of sale.  A retailer is subject to a PACA license only if the invoice costs of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetable purchases exceed $230,000 in a calendar year.  Businesses such as hotels, restaurants, food stands, and other entities that provide ready-to-eat foods are exempt from COOL requirements.

During retail surveillance reviews, inspectors verify that:

1. country of origin declarations are legible and placed conspicuously on the commodity package, 
2. labelling information is accurate and not misleading, 
3. required records are maintained and available within 5 business days, and 
4. the method of production, for fish and shellfish, is properly declared.

Supplier Audits

To verify the accuracy of labeled information, USDA conducts audits of the records collected during surveillance reviews.  Any direct or indirect supplier may be audited to verify the consistency of the information collected.
Importers, growers, distributors, packers, and processors are required to maintain COOL related records for 1 year from the date of the transaction.  Records must include from whom the commodity was purchased and to whom the commodity was sold.  This information must be provided to the inspector with 5 business days when requested.

Commodities covered by COOL

COOL is a mandatory labeling law that requires retailers to provide country of origin information for specific covered commodities including:

• Muscle cuts and ground portions of chicken, lamb, and goat
• Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables
• Wild caught and farm raised fish and shellfish
• Raw peanuts, raw pecans, raw macadamia nuts, and ginseng

COOL requirements do not extend to:

• Processed foods
• Multi ingredient items
• Beef and pork (removed from statute in 2016)

Regulations for fish and shellfish covered commodities (7 CFR Part 60) became effective in 2005. The final rule for all covered commodities (7 CFR Part 60 and 7 CFR Part 65) went into effect on March 16, 2009. AMS is responsible for administration and enforcement of COOL.

COOL Complaints

Complaints can be filed through the USDA COOL Complaint Submission Portal, where consumers may report potential COOL violations for review and follow up by the Labeling and Compliance Division.

COOL Factsheets and Frequently Asked Questions

Our factsheets are available in English, Arabic –  عربى, Chinese – 中文, French – Français, Korean – 한국어, Spanish – Español, and Vietnamese – Việt Nam.

• Consumer
• Retailer
• Supplier