Organic Animal Welfare Standards

The trade assocaition, along with thousands of organic stakeholders and consumers, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to swiftly implement a final Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) rule – strengthening organic animal welfare standards is long overdue and critical for the sustainability of family farms, the advancement of organic, and continued consumer trust in the USDA Organic seal. 

USDA published the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) proposed rule on August 9, 2022 in response to years of industry advocacy and a lawsuit filed by OTA. The rule was open for comment through November 10, 2022 and drew overwhelming public support. Initial analysis shows that out of the nearly 40,000 posted comments, a huge 89 percent marjority are in favor of this regulation being finalized and implemented. The rule ensures that organic animals have true outdoor access and close regulatory loopholes that have led to uneven animal welfare standards and unfair conditions for organic farmers who are already raising their birds by the highest organic practices. 

The comments OTA submitted were highly representative of the organic poultry industry. The were informed and supprted by feedback from 579 organic poultry operations producing some 90 million organic chickens and 10 accrredited certifiers that certify more than 1,500 poultry operations. Read the full press release. 

OTA's OLPS Final Comments 

Health and competitiveness of family farms – inconsistent animal welfare standards for organic chickens create an unlevel playing field for organic farmers already providing true outdoor access.

Advancement of organic animal welfare – 75% of Americans are either very or somewhat concerned about the treatment of animals by the meat and dairy industry.

Consumer trust and integrity of the organic label – 89% of Americans say the USDA should periodically review and update the organic standards to keep pace with new science and consumer expectations.

OLPS clarifies the production standards of avian and mammalian livestock as authorized by OFPA to support consistent enforcement across producers and alleviate market failure by assuring consumers that USDA-certified organic livestock products meet a robust and uniform standard. The proposed rule:  

• Establishes poultry indoor and outdoor space requirements and stocking density limits. Enclosed porches are not considered outdoor spaces. 
• Clarifies living conditions, healthcare, transportation and slaughter practices to support animal welfare for mammalian livestock species. 
• Acknowledges that current conditions are causing consumer confusion and market failure. 
• Adopts the position that the Organic Foods Production Act provides the requisite authority for regulations regarding livestock and poultry health care practices and living conditions – including regulations regarding animal welfare. 

“After 20 years stuck in limbo, organic animal welfare reforms are finally back on the agenda at USDA,” says OTA CEO & Executive Director Tom Chapman. “The Organic Trade Association welcomes the release of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards proposed rule, which will level the playing field for organic producers and raise the bar so that the highest standard of care becomes the baseline.”

Read the full press release. 

NOP’s OLPS Website

Organic livestock and poultry producers have been clamoring for more robust animal welfare standards for nearly 20 years – almost as long as the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) has existed. The current USDA National Organic Program regulations require that all certified organic operations give their animals “access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, clean water for drinking, and direct sunlight.” Unfortunately, these regulations have not been consistently enforced, resulting in some large companies utilizing narrow, enclosed porches for poultry instead of true outdoor access to meet this requirement.

After years of public engagement in the rulemaking process, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) in 2017, only for it to be abruptly rescinded by the Trump Administration. In response, OTA filed a lawsuit against USDA (ongoing). In response to the lawsuit and continued pressure from the organic industry, USDA  published the new proposed version of this rule – the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) – publishing the rule on October 25, 2023.