A proposed rule expanding animal welfare requirements for livestock and poultry sold as "certified organic" drew critical comments from some in the agriculture industry who say they would require costly new upgrades for little benefit.
Due July 13, more than 6,300 comments came from industry groups, individual farmers and animal welfare organizations. Predictably, more opposition to the rule was seen from the ag industry, while animal welfare groups lauded the proposal.
The new rules would require farmers to construct or retrofit facilities to comply with the new standards. Egg and poultry producers would be particularly affected by the proposed rules, which call for specific new living standards for poultry.
The National Organic Program, part of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), oversees standards for the production of "certified organic" products.
The draft rules target four areas of production: animal living conditions, health care, transport and slaughter. The proposal looks to align practices on the farm with what consumers expect when they purchase organic products, USDA said in the draft rules, released April 13.
The requirement that poultry have year-round access to an unroofed, outdoor area with at least 50% soil coverage proved one of the most controversial parts of the proposal. The area must offer drinking water, sunlight and sunshade, as well as "suitable enrichment to entice birds to go outside."
The rules also implement a stocking density for poultry habitats of five pounds of bird per square foot.