U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the final rules for meat, poultry and egg products labeled “Made in the USA” on Monday at the National Farmers Union’s annual convention in Phoenix.
As previously proposed, use of the label would be voluntary, but companies that use it would be required to have documentation proving their products come from animals “born, raised, slaughtered or processed in the United States.”
“Today’s announcement is an important step toward protecting consumers and builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to strengthen trust and fairness in the marketplace where small processors can compete,” Vilsack said. “This final rule ensures that when consumers see a ‘Made in the USA’ label, they can trust that label and know that a product was born, processed, and produced in the United States.”
The Canadian government and livestock industry groups have expressed concern that the labeling rules will disrupt North American livestock markets. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Canada will be closely monitoring for signs of discrimination against Canadian beef, possibly referring to a previous World Trade Organization ruling on U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL).
The USDA says companies that use labeling have until Jan. 1, 2026 to comply with the new regulatory requirements.
Related:
Canadian delegation expresses concern over potential impact of “Made in the USA” label
U.S. proposes voluntary introduction of “Made in the U.S.” label to exclude Canadian beef and pork
