Breaking News - USDA will Reinstate Organic Animal Welfare Rules
In an important milestone for NOC and other allies in the organic community, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on June 17 that they plan to reinstate organic animal welfare standards that were withdrawn during the Trump Administration. Secretary Vilsack announced that the USDA will "reconsider the prior Administration's interpretation that the Organic Foods Production Act does not authorize USDA to regulate the practices that were the subject of the 2017 Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule," including meaningful outdoor access for organic chickens and other animal welfare improvements. The Secretary "directed the National Organic Program to begin a rulemaking to address this statutory interpretation and to include a proposal to disallow the use of porches as outdoor space in organic production."
NOC is a plaintiff in a lawsuit led by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) challenging the withdrawal of the rule. CFS is currently in settlement discussions with USDA. Now, the Biden USDA has announced plans to reinstate the rule designed to strengthen the minimum requirements for the care and well-being of animals on organic farms and reaffirming its authority to set animal welfare standards in the National Organic Program. USDA plans to publish the rule for notice and comment, and has stated that they will “send a proposed rule to OMB within six to nine months from the date of the remand.”