USDA Proposes Stricter Animal Welfare Standards for Organic Meat and Poultry

The USDA has released a proposed rule to amend the current standards for the USDA organic certification as they relate to the production of meat and poultry. The new rules would introduce stricter animal welfare regulations for certified organic chicken and meat in the large and growing organic industry.
USDA Proposes Stricter Animal Welfare Standards for Organic Meat and Poultry
Currently, the USDA organic standards for chicken and meat do not focus on animal welfare as much as on limiting the products that may be fed or given to the animals, such as antibiotics. Essentially, the current standards state that organic livestock must be fed organic feed, cannot be given drugs, antibiotics, or hormones, and must have access to the outdoors.

However, the newly proposed rules will address four areas related specifically to the welfare of livestock, including: living conditions, animal healthcare, transport, and slaughter. The USDA states that the purpose of the proposed rules is to provide greater consistency and transparency to organic livestock practices. They go on to state that the current organic requirements for livestock are “broad and general”, and that the newly proposed rules will add specificity to the animal production and handling requirements.

This comes as good news to many people in the food movement that believe the current organic requirements are too vague and open to interpretation. Often times, what the average consumer believes the life of an organic certified animal is like, does not line up with reality. If enacted, the new rules will alter organic regulations so that many organic livestock practices will more closely resemble what they are intended to.

The proposed rules are likely to be met with some resistance, especially from those in the multibillion-dollar organic industry who may have to alter their practices to conform to the newer requirements. However, consumers are likely to receive the news well, as it will provide greater clarity in regards to how an organic livestock operation actually functions, rather than how they imagine it to function.

Comments are currently being accepted regarding the proposed rule. Feel free to make your voice heard! Find out how and get more information by clicking here.

Do the USDA certified organic requirements for meat and poultry need to be updated? What do you think about the current requirements? Let us know!
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