Which agency is responsible for administration and enforcement of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program?

• A. AMS
• B. FSIS
• C. ARS
• D. APHIS

Answer: (A)

Country of Origin Labeling is a labeling program overseen by the Agricultural Marketing Service. AMS sets the rules for what origin information must appear on certain products and conducts enforcement at the retail level to ensure consumers see accurate country origins on covered commodities. While FSIS handles safety inspections and labeling related to meat and poultry from a food-safety standpoint, the administration and enforcement of COOL specifically lie with AMS. ARS focuses on research, and APHIS on animal and plant health, not this labeling program.