COOL labeling adjustments requested

The Food Marketing Institute has asked the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture to make further adjustments to its Interim Final Rule for mandatory country-of-origin labeling of fish and shellfish.

While complimenting USDA for trying to create a regulatory system to implement a “flawed law” in the most reasonable way, FMI asked that recordkeeping requirements be amended to allow a complete record applied to an individual package or to a carton of bulk product by the supplier with knowledge to serve as the only record necessary at retail.

USDA should drop the requirement that the information be captured by intermediary suppliers along the supply chain. Also, the specific parties required to maintain records should only have to do so until the product is sold at retail. FMI asked USDA to establish a new effective date for the final rule and urged it to consider applying the Food Safety and Inspection Service uniform compliance date policy.

Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability
The road ahead for CPGs in 2025 and beyond—Packaging World editors review key findings from a survey of 88 brand owners, CPG, and FMCG readers.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability