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Canadian Cattle Association Statement on Investigation of Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (mCOOL) for Beef
September 11, 2026
“The Canadian Cattle Association and Canada’s cattle industry are concerned about mandatory country of origin labelling (mCOOL) discussions and the potential impact of labelling requirements being reintroduced. We continue to monitor and advocate on behalf of producers with Governments and stakeholders on both sides of the border.
“With current record low cattle numbers, seamless integration is critical to optimize feedlot and processing capacity in both the U.S. and Canada. Reinstating mCOOL would undermine the highly integrated North American beef market. MCOOL would add significant costs to the North American beef industry and increase the cost of beef to consumers across North America. Compliance with mCOOL would require segregation throughout the supply chain and create additional traceability requirements and labelling costs.
“The original U.S. mCOOL measure was repealed in 2015 after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favour of Canada and Mexico, finding that the measure discriminated against imported livestock.
“The North American beef industry is uniquely integrated. CCA fully supports continued integration and the unrestricted and tariff- and barrier-free movement of cattle across borders to optimize weather and price conditions that benefit consumers everywhere.
“The U.S. and Canada have the largest two-way trade in live cattle and beef in the world. It is crucial to address any issues that threaten or diminish trade between the two countries. CCA is committed to working toward continued integration and supporting Canadian beef producers.”
— Tyler Fulton, President, Canadian Cattle Association
Source: CCA statement on their website
BFO ADVOCACY
BFO continues to actively engage governments and industry partners to protect Ontario's beef sector during this period of heightened trade uncertainty.
We continue to work closely with our national partners at the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and National Cattle Feeders' Association (NCFA), along with allies in the United States, including the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). Together, we are stressing the importance of uninterrupted cross-border trade and the enormous value the integrated North American cattle and beef market provides to producers, processors and consumers on both sides of the border.
BFO also continues to work closely with the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association (OCFA) on Ontario beef marketing and promotion. In the current trade environment, building demand for Ontario beef at home and abroad is an important part of supporting a strong and resilient beef sector.
Additionally, BFO continues to advocate for the province to increase the Risk Management Program (RMP) program area cap. Maintaining a strong provincial risk management program is increasingly important given the uncertainty facing the sector and the potential for trade disruptions to quickly affect cattle markets and producer returns.
Over the coming weeks and months, BFO will continue raising these issues directly with Ontario MPs and MPPs. This will include political engagement at the International Plowing Match, BFO's fall lobby day at Queen's Park, and direct meetings with provincial and federal elected officials.
Our message will remain consistent: governments must protect the ability of Canadian cattle and beef to move freely across the border, resist measures that unnecessarily fragment the North American market, and ensure effective risk management tools are available to producers should trade or market disruptions occur.
BFO will continue to keep members informed as the situation develops.