US Voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling

As Canadian hog producers brace themselves for the impacts of potential US tariffs, the Potential Impacts of US Voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) report gives some insights into the effects distorted trade policies might have on the hog industry.

Retailers and processing plants in the US may use COOL when the “Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products With U.S.-Origin Claims” regulation comes into effect on January 1, 2026. This will be disruptive to the Canadian and US pork industries. Using the Made in the USA or Product of USA labels will require documentation confirming the meat is from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States. Some US plants have reported that they will use these labels and only purchase animals that meet the regulatory criteria.

This means that Canadian-born pigs currently being grown for these plants would not be accepted. US plants that do accept Canadian pigs will likely discount the price offered to offset added costs associated with complying with this regulation. This would be consistent with what happened when COOL was implemented in 2008/9.

This report looks at the potential impact COOL could have on the Canadian feeder pigs and market hogs exported to the US and is part of the ongoing efforts of an Economic Group (ON Pork, MB Pork, Sask Pork, and AB Pork).