USDA Wants to Keep Tracking Your Steak's Origin
Published Date: 9/11/2026
Notice
Summary
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service wants to keep collecting info about where food comes from by extending their current labeling rules. This affects farmers, food sellers, and shoppers who rely on country-of-origin labels. They’re asking for public comments by November 10, 2026, to help shape any updates—no big cost changes expected, just keeping things clear and official.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Large Recordkeeping Burden on Food Businesses
The notice estimates public recordkeeping burden for COOL at 56.9 hours per response, with an estimated 349,598 recordkeepers (importers, food manufacturers, and food retailers), one response per recordkeeper, and a total annual burden of 19,879,947 hours. The extension request would continue this information collection burden on those businesses.
COOL Labeling Continues for Covered Foods
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) remains in full force for the listed covered commodities, including muscle cuts and ground lamb, chicken, and goat; wild and farm‑raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts; and ginseng. The Agency is requesting an extension of the associated information collection (OMB No. 0581-0250) with comments due by November 10, 2026.
Beef and Pork Origin Labels Removed
Muscle‑cut beef and pork and ground beef and pork are not subject to mandatory COOL; Congress removed those commodities from COOL requirements and AMS issued a final rule on March 2, 2016 removing mandatory COOL for beef and pork. As a result, retailers are not required to notify customers of country of origin for those beef and pork products.
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