On September 11, 2026, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its intent to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension and revision of the information collection associated with the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program. This procedural step, outlined in a Federal Register notice, signifies the agency's commitment to continue enforcing and gathering data pertinent to the labeling requirements for a range of agricultural and seafood products.
Background on Country of Origin Labeling
The Country of Origin Labeling program has a complex legislative and regulatory history, reflecting ongoing efforts to inform consumers about the provenance of their food. The foundation of COOL requirements was laid by the 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) and 2008 (Pub. L. 110-234) Farm Bills. These legislative mandates amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, making it obligatory for retailers to inform customers about the country of origin for specific commodities. Initially, these included muscle cuts and ground lamb, chicken, and goat meat; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts; and ginseng.
The implementation saw an interim final rule for fish and shellfish become effective in April 2005, followed by another interim final rule for the remaining covered commodities in September 2008. A comprehensive final rule for all commodities was published in January 2009, becoming effective in March of the same year. Subsequent adjustments included a May 2013 final rule that refined the definition of a retailer and amended labeling requirements for meat muscle cut commodities from animals slaughtered in the United States.
Significant Amendments and Current Scope
A pivotal change to the COOL program occurred with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113). This act amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 by explicitly removing muscle cut beef and pork, along with ground beef and pork commodities, from mandatory COOL requirements. In response, AMS issued a final rule on March 2, 2016, to align its regulations with the statutory change, thereby eliminating mandatory COOL for these specific beef and pork products. Despite these removals, the Federal Register notice clarifies that mandatory COOL requirements remain fully in effect for all other previously covered commodities.
Enforcement activities for the COOL program have been in place since 2006. These efforts are conducted through cooperative agreements established between AMS and State agencies, as authorized by the underlying statute. This decentralized enforcement mechanism leverages state-level resources to ensure compliance across various retail sectors.
The Information Collection Request and Public Input
The current notice falls under the purview of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This act requires federal agencies to obtain OMB approval for information collections, ensuring they are necessary, minimally burdensome, and have practical utility. The previously approved information collection for COOL is set to expire on December 30, 2026, necessitating this request for an extension and revision.
AMS estimates the public reporting burden for recordkeeping, storage, and maintenance to average 56.9 hours per response. The estimated number of recordkeepers is substantial, totaling 349,598, primarily comprising importers, food manufacturers, and food retailers. This results in an estimated total annual burden on respondents of 19,879,947 hours.
In line with the Paperwork Reduction Act, AMS is inviting public comments on several key aspects of this information collection. Specifically, feedback is sought on:
- The necessity of the proposed collection for proper agency function and its practical utility.
- The accuracy of the agency's burden estimates, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions.
- Potential ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected.
- Methods to minimize the burden on respondents, particularly through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques.
Comments must be received by November 10, 2026, to be assured of consideration. All submitted comments will become part of the public record and will be summarized for inclusion in the request for OMB approval. This public comment period is a critical component of the regulatory process, allowing affected parties and the general public to influence federal data collection practices.
