The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service today released its final rules for Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices under the National Organic Program. The rules amend requirements for certifying livestock and poultry production by expanding existing standards for living conditions, animal well-being, and production practices. The final rules also create new provisions for animal handling and transport for slaughter.

The rules are expected to be published in the Federal Register this week; the rules take effect 60 days later. The full implementation deadline will be March 20, 2018 with two exceptions: 1) Organic egg operations that are certified before March 20, 2020 need to implement the outdoor access requirements by March 21, 2022. Organic egg operations that become certified after March 20, 2020 need to comply with the outdoor access requirements in order to obtain certification; and (2) Organic broiler operations must fully implement the indoor space requirements by March 20, 2020.

According to the public inspection document of the final rule issued today, the final rule:

  1. Clarifies how producers and handlers participating in the NOP must treat livestock and poultry to ensure their wellbeing.

  2. Clarifies when and how certain physical alterations may be performed on organic livestock and poultry in order to minimize stress. Additionally, some forms of physical alterations are prohibited.

  3. Sets maximum indoor and outdoor stocking densities for organic chickens, which vary depending on the type of production and stage of life.

  4. Defines outdoor space and requires that outdoor spaces for organic poultry include soil and vegetation.

  5. Adds new requirements for transporting organic livestock and poultry to sale or slaughter.

  6. Clarifies the application of USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) requirements regarding the handling of livestock and poultry in connection with slaughter to certified organic livestock and poultry establishments and provides for the enforcement of USDA organic regulations based on FSIS inspection findings.

  7. AMS has only established indoor space requirements for chickens in this final rule. AMS may propose space requirements for other avian species in the future. Other avian species must meet all other indoor requirements including exit doors, ammonia levels, and lighting.

              See Docket No. AMS-NOP-15-0012 for the proposed rule and other related documents and comments.