NALF Reminds Seedstock Producers to Provide COOL Affidavits
Under the 2008 farm bill, country-of-origin labeling (COOL) goes into effect, Sept. 30.
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not communicated specific COOL requirements for seedstock producers, the growing consensus is that sellers should provide an official “Recommended Country of Origin Affidavit / Declaration Statement” to buyers, along with a bill of sale. The North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) and others in the seedstock sector are communicating with UDSA about ways in which that affidavit information might be included in breed associations’ ownership-transfer records. In the meantime, NALF advises seedstock producers to provide purchasers with signed affidavits. A link to the recommended form is available in the “Programs” section of the association’s Web site (www.nalf.org).
The COOL law states that anyone who supplies a covered commodity to a retailer, directly or indirectly, must maintain records (for example, affidavits and bills of sale) to identify the product’s immediate previous source (if applicable) and immediate subsequent recipient. Such records must identify the product uniquely, and they must remain accessible for one year after the transaction.
The North American Limousin Foundation (www.nalf.org), headquartered in Centennial, Colo., provides programs and services – including genetic evaluation of 5,000 active sires – to more than 4,000 members and their commercial customers. The Limousin breed and its Lim-Flex® hybrid lead the beef industry in muscle-growth efficiency and ideally complement British breeds.
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North American Limousin Foundation
7383 S. Alton Way, Suite 100
Centennial, CO 80112-2339
(303) 220-1693 ■ www.nalf.org
For immediate release
September 30, 2008
Contact Brad Parker
brad@nalf.org
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