WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release) –U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) Friday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins asking her to develop a framework for reinstating Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef.

“Our American producers work hard every day to produce the highest quality beef in the world,”Rounds wrote. “They battle the wind, the rain, the snow and the sun. Foreign governments and multinational meatpacking companies should not determine the fate of the American family ranching system.”

A majority of American consumers support requiring country of origin labeling for fresh meat.Retail-level MCOOL for fresh fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, lamb and seafood passed as part of the 2002 Farm Bill and was implemented fully in 2008. After a number of challenges from trade partners and the World Trade Organization, Congress repealed MCOOL requirements for beef and pork. Rounds is asking Secretary Rollins to develop a framework with U.S. trade officials to develop a framework that would not face similar challenges from trading partners.

Rounds has been a leader in the push to reinstate MCOOL for beef. Most recently, Roundslaunched a nationwide effort in June 2024 to support American farmers and ranchers by getting MCOOL included in the Farm Bill. This effort wasendorsed by 26 farm and ranch groups from across the country. The effort was also co-signed by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.).

Read the full text of the letterHERE or below.