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States, regardless of where the animal was born or raised. The
Agency does not believe that these requirements will prevent the
U.S. industry from continuing to purchase animals from Canada or
Mexico.
With regard to costs borne by the U.S. industry, and as
discussed in a prior response, the Agency has sought to minimize
the cost to industry at each step of the marketing process.
This final rule does not lessen any existing flexibility in how
required country of origin information is currently conveyed
along the supply chain. The Agency’s goal is to enable firms to
implement the requirements of this final rule with the least
possible disruption to cost-efficient production methods.
Rural Economy/Miscellaneous
Summary of Comments: Some commenters expressed concern
about the state of the economy, particularly the rural economy,
and the impact the rule might have regarding loss of jobs. For
example, one commenter stated that with around 2,000 employees
in a typical meat processing plant, it is important not to
jeopardize these jobs. Another commenter expressed concern
about the elimination of thousands of jobs in rural America at a
time when jobs are badly needed.
Agency Response: USDA supports strong rural economies.
Through various programs, including USDA’s Rural Development,
the USDA provides assistance to rural communities. USDA also
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