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 kwall@humanesociety.org or Jen Lonergan atjlonergan@humanesociety.org.

OneoftheprimarypurposesoftheOrganicFoodsProductionActis“toassureconsumersthatorganicallyproducedproductsmeetaconsistentstandard.”Inconsistentstandardsunderminetheverypurposeofthestatute.“Persistentconsumerconfusionaboutorganiclabelsoneggsandotherlivestockproductsjeopardizesconsumertrustintheorganiclabelgenerallyandunderminesakeypurposeforestablishinganationalorganiccertificationprogram.”–USDA’sProposedRuleonOrganicLivestockandPoultryPractices