It Will Permanently Institutionalize Factory Conditions for Organic Poultry

Comment by October 11

What part of the current regulations does the USDA not understand?

The producer of an organic livestock operation must establish and maintain year-round livestock living conditions which accommodate the health and natural behavior of animals, including:

Year-round access for all animals to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air…. [emphasis added]

Instead of enforcing the spirit and letter of the law, subsequent administrations in the White House and at the USDA have spent years delaying, with the excuse that new rulemaking “was needed.” After a decade of foot dragging, a draft rule is available for public comment — and it makes things worse!

Please make your voice heard by asking the USDA to:

1. Reject the current draft rule unless they are willing to substantively change it.

2. Shorten the proposed timelines for implementation. Suggested phase in schedules are wholly unacceptable (three years for existing laying houses, eight years for new houses, and an appalling alternative proposal for 15 years).