Collins Supports Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act

9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins votes in support of a bill he says will protect farmers, families, ranchers, and small businesses in the 9th District and nationwide.

Earlier this week, Collins voted for H.R. 2393, the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act.

The bill would repeal mandatory country of origin labeling requirements for certain meat products.

Collins said the burdensome requirements have not led to improved food safety but to costly litigation.

According to Collins, revised COOL requirements were implemented in 2009 and challenged by Canada and Mexico within five months.

He said the World Trade Organization has ruled in favor of Canada and Mexico four times and the countries are currently deliberating retaliatory sanctions.

Collins said that without repeal of COOL rules for meat, Georgia could be hit with retaliatory tariffs on approximately $493 million worth of exports across multiple industries and nationwide, the United States could face more than $3 billion in retaliatory sanctions imposed by its largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico.

The Hall County Republican said failure to repeal mandatory COOL requirements for meat could have a devastating impact on hardworking Northeast Georgian, adding that the Ninth District of Georgia is the poultry capital of the world and produces more chicken than any other district in the country, to go along with a large beef industry, increasingly thriving winemakers, and numerous other industries that would be harmed by far-reaching sanctions.

He added that he is glad that the House took quick action and he encouraged his colleagues in the Senate to move swiftly to pass the bill and send it to the President without delay.