Online Country of Origin Labeling Bill Exits Senate Committee
The Senate Commerce Committee on July advanced a bill that would require sellers of new merchandise online to disclose "in a conspicuous manner" in its listing the product's country of origin.
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The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, gives online marketplaces safe harbor as long as an outside seller was told it's obligated to provide the country of origin, and was given a way to post that information.
The Country Of Origin Labeling Online Act, also called the COOL Online Act, would take effect one year after passage. Six months after enactment, the CBP commissioner, the FDA commissioner, the USDA secretary and the U.S. trade representative would be required to publish a memorandum of understanding with public guidance on how the bill would be implemented. The bill said it would not apply to food and drugs subject to FDA nor to most food items.