CALGARY, Alta. – Canadian meat producers and livestock haulers dodged a bullet when the U.S. imposed voluntary country of origin labelling, but it appears mandatory labelling is only two years away.

The U.S. Farm Bill contains a controversial country of origin labelling procedure that requires all meat to be labeled that hasn’t been born, raised and processed in the U.S. The fear is that supermarkets, slaughterhouses and retailers will shun meat from other countries such as Canada, as the administrative burden of carrying imported meat would be too costly and time-consuming to be bothered with. When the U.S. Farm Bill was announced in Washington recently, voluntary country of origin labelling was announced. However, it has since come to light that mandatory labelling will be in effect in two years. That’s not what Canadian farmers and livestock haulers want to hear.