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DES MOINES, Iowa • Eight meat and livestock groups have sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture in federal court in Washington to block implementation of a new meat labeling rule.

The rule approved in May by the USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service, requires meat labels to detail where animals grown for meat were born, raised and slaughtered. The USDA also decided to prohibit processors from mixing meat from animals that come from different countries.

The American Meat Institute, a trade group for packers, processors, and suppliers, and seven other groups say segregating the meat is not part of the law Congress passed. They say it would be costly and offers no food safety or public health benefit.

The USDA did not immediately comment on the lawsuit filed Monday.