State COOL Legislation Fails in South Dakota

The South Dakota legislature has stopped a move to require country-of-origin labeling on beef sold within the state. Only 13 senators voted in favor of rewriting the state’s COOL law, according to online publication Meatingplace. While those in favor of the law say consumers have the right to know, voters against the bill say federal regulations would supersede an amended South Dakota law. South Dakota’s State Cattlemen’s Association also said the measure would not be enforceable. The U.S. repealed COOL in December 2015 after Canada and Mexico convinced the World Trade Organization that the rule was discriminatory and violated international trade laws. The South Dakota Stock Growers Association supported the measure, along with the South Dakota Farmers Union.