Saturday, December 16, 2017

USDA puts final ax on organic livestock rule

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Dec. 15 its intent to withdraw the Organic Livestock & Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule. The rule was finalized in January 2017 but placed on hold when the new Administration took office. In mid-November, the agency had suggested that it would re-evaluate the rule and was extending consideration of the rule until May 14, 2018. The latest action formally terminates the rule. The organic livestock rule, initially proposed in April 2016, adds new provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter and avian living conditions and expands and clarifies existing requirements covering livestock care and production practices. In withdrawing the rule, USDA determined that the regulation exceeded the agency's authority and that it would have had a greater economic impact on farmers than originally estimated...more

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