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the chain of commerce to clear the system. Therefore, the
requirements of this rule do not apply to muscle cut covered
commodities produced or packaged before [insert date of filing
for public inspection by the Federal Register]. The Agency
believes that providing an education and outreach period and
allowing existing stock to clear the chain of commerce is
necessary to prevent retailer and supplier confusion and will
help alleviate some of the economic burden on regulated
entities.
Finally, the Agency recognizes that for some period of time
following the period of education and outreach, existing label
and package inventories may provide less specific origin
information (e.g., Product of Country X and the U.S.). As long
as retail establishments provide the more specific information
via other means (e.g., signage), the Agency will consider the
origin notification requirements to have been met until these
existing label and package inventories have been completely
used.
Comments and Responses
On March 12, 2013, the Agency published a proposed rule
with a 30-day comment period. AMS received 936 timely comments
from consumers, retailers, producers, wholesalers, foreign
governments, distributors, trade associations, and other
interested parties. The majority of commenters registered their
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