Grocery storeUSDA announced this week the finalization of its new Product of the USA labeling rule for meat, poultry and eggs. The new rule addresses a loophole created by the repeal of mandatory country-of-origin labeling in 2015. Agriculture groups have been fighting for the last six years to reform the labeling rule.

Kent Bacus, executive director of government affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says the reformation is appreciated, but it needs to be World Trade Organization (WTO)-compliant to stymie potential trade tensions with Canada and Mexico. Even so, USDA has been consistent that the rule remains voluntary, which allows it to be trade-compliant. Ultimately, the Product of the USA labeling rule could open premium opportunities for livestock producers.

Read more on USDA’s labeling rule here.