Under the rule as it stands, meatpackers can choose to label meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered domestically as ‘mixed origin’ if they were, at the same time, packing products using imported meat.
However, Vilsack said meat processors should voluntarily include information about what production step occurred in each country when multiple countries appear on the label.
And while the Bush rules states that meat processors can collate ground meat from plants in which meat from various countries had been processed within 60 days,Vilsack has also asked the meat processors to reduce the number of days to 10.
In a letter to stakeholders, Vilsack said that the Department of Agriculture will be closely reviewing industry compliance with the rule.
“I strongly support Country of Origin Labelling - it's a critical step toward providing consumers with additional information about the origin of their food," said Vilsack.
Although mandatory country of origin labelling was introduced in the US on 30 September last year the new, final rule comes into effect on 16 March this year, when retailers and suppliers who fail to adhere to the system can face a fine of up to $1000 per violation.
While substantially altered foods are exempt from the law, COOL labels will be required for beef, chicken, pork, lamb, goat, wild and farm-raised fish, perishable agricultural commodities, ginseng, macadamias, pecans and peanuts.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the leading opposition Conservative party claims that current rules are misleading as meat imported from abroad, then processed in Britain and turned into products such as ready meals, sausages and pies, can be labelled British.
The party is introducing a Parliamentary Bill requiring meat and meat products labelled as British or carrying the Union flag to be born and bred in Britain.
Nick Herbert, shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs, said in a statement: “A voluntary agreement between major food retailers is inadequate and a compulsory labelling scheme is now essential.
"People have a right to know where their food comes from.”
The draft parliamentary bill, part of the Conservatives’ Honest Food campaign, states that the new rules would relate to products containing any meat ingredient(s) which “makes up at least 10 per cent of the product by weight as sold to the ultimate consumer”.
The Conservatives’ Honest Food report claims that the amendment to the Food Labelling Regulations Bill would not impose “considerable extra burdens” on manufacturers or retailers. The report said: “It is technically and logistically possible to provide true origin information on products, even those with ingredients which have variable sourcing.
“Indeed, traceability systems are legally required under General Food Law and these allow country of origin to be determined for all ingredients."