Cattle Ranchers Sue to Return Country-of-origin Labeling

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Ranchers are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture, seeking a return of labels that clearly identify meat produced in other countries and imported to the United States.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Spokane, Washington.

It seeks to overturn a March 2016 decision by the Department of Agriculture to revoke regulations requiring imported meat products to be labeled with their country of origin. That change allowed imported meat to be sold as U.S. products.

Between 2009 and 2016, the USDA required country-of-origin labeling on meat.

The Department of Agriculture on Monday declined to comment on a matter that is in litigation.

The lawsuit was brought by Public Justice on behalf of the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, and the Cattle Producers of Washington.