Organic Proposed Rule Factsheet 7 25...
Transcript of Organic Proposed Rule Factsheet 7 25...
factsheet
SupportUSDA’sProposedRuleonOrganicLivestockandPoultryPractices
OnApril13,2016,theUSDA’sNationalOrganicProgramproposedaruletoestablishpracticestandardsfororganiclivestockandpoultryproduction—clarifyingstandardsthathavebeeninconsistentlyapplied,bringingorganic
standardsmoreinlinewithconsumerexpectations,andlevelingtheplayingfieldfororganicproducers.Theproposedrulefororganicproductswould:
Forallanimals:• Requireaccesstosoil,directsunlight,freshair,andcleanwaterfordrinking.• Requirethatsheltersallowenoughspaceforanimalsto liedown,standup,turnaround,
andfullystretchtheirlimbswithouttouchingotheranimalsorthesidesoftheshelter.Alsorequiregrouphousingforpigsinmostinstances.
• Prohibitcertainpainfulpractices, includingde-beaking(apainfulmutilationperformedtominimize feather-pecking, a stress-related behavior observed in severely-crowdedchickens) and tail docking (partial amputation often performedwithout anaesthetic andcausingincreasedflyattacks,withnoanimalorhumanhealthjustifications).
• Prohibitthetransportofsick,injured,weak,disabled,blind,andlameanimals,andprohibitcertaininhumanemethodsofeuthanasia.
Forbirds:• Setminimumindoorandoutdoorspacerequirementsforegg-layinghens,andrequirethat
producersprovideasufficientnumberofexitsandoutdoorenrichmenttoencouragebirdstogooutsideonadailybasis.
• Clarifythatcoveredporches(smallenclosedconcretespacesthatdon’tallowbirdsaccesstosoilordirectsunlight,orallowmorethanafewbirdstoleavethemainfacilityatatime)andsimilarstructuresdonotqualifyasoutdoorspace.
PhasedImplementation:Organicproducerswouldhaveoneyeartocomeintocompliancewiththenewstandards,excepttheywouldhavethreetofiveyears(dependingonifthey’realreadycertified) tomeet theoutdooraccess requirements forbirds. Thephase-inperiods take intoaccount rates of depreciation of farm facilities, and are meant to reduce the costs ofcompliance.Theproposedrulehasbeenintheworksforyears:stakeholdershavehadampleopportunitytoweighinonthestandards.
Toprotecttheintegrityandvalueoftheorganiclabel,organicproducersshouldhavealevelplaying field—notbesubject to inconsistentcertifyingstandards. The lackofclearregulatorystandardsonoutdooraccessforhenshascreatedwidevariationintheoutdoorspaceprovidedby different producers, a disparity that has had economic implications for producers andthreatens consumer confidence in the organic label. Those paying a premium for organicproductsexpecthigherwelfarestandardsfortheanimals.
Leaders in theorganic industryandkey food safetyandconsumerprotectiongroups supportthese reforms, including the Organic Trade Association, Organic Valley, Perdue Farms,ConsumerReports,andtheCenterforFoodSafety.
Birdsshouldgooutside:Themajorityoforganiceggproducersalreadyallowtheirbirdstogooutside, and 90% of flocks detected with avian flu during the 2014-2015 outbreak werecommercial flocks kept almost exclusively indoors. The science shows that lower stockingdensityandaccess to freshairandsunlightcouldactuallyworkagainstviral transmissionandmutation.
For more information, contact Kate Wall at [email protected] or Jen Lonergan [email protected].
OneoftheprimarypurposesoftheOrganicFoodsProductionActis“toassureconsumersthatorganicallyproducedproductsmeetaconsistentstandard.”Inconsistentstandardsunderminetheverypurposeofthestatute.“Persistentconsumerconfusionaboutorganiclabelsoneggsandotherlivestockproductsjeopardizesconsumertrustintheorganiclabelgenerallyandunderminesakeypurposeforestablishinganationalorganiccertificationprogram.”–USDA’sProposedRuleonOrganicLivestockandPoultryPractices