0581-AD44 201610 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0581 Agricultural Marketing Service AMS 0500 Department of Agriculture USDA NOP; Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices;

This action would establish standards that support additional practice standards for organic livestock and poultry production. This action would add provisions to the USDA organic regulations to address and clarify livestock and poultry living conditions (for example, outdoor access, housing environment and stocking densities), health care practices (for example physical alterations, administering medical treatment, euthanasia), and animal handling and transport to and during slaughter.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 7 CFR 205 7 U.S.C. 6501 to 6522 Yes

This action would establish standards that support additional practice standards for organic livestock and poultry production. This action would add provisions to the USDA organic regulations to address and clarify livestock and poultry living conditions (for example, outdoor access, housing environment and stocking densities), health care practices (for example physical alterations, administering medical treatment, euthanasia), and animal handling and transport to and during slaughter.

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This action is necessary to augment the USDA organic livestock and poultry production regulations with robust and clear provisions to fulfill an objective of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA): to assure consumers that organically-produced products meet a consistent and uniform standard (7 U.S.C. 6501). OFPA mandates that detailed livestock and poultry regulations be developed through notice and comment rulemaking and intends for National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) involvement in that process (7 U.S.C. 6508(g)).

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The alternative is that consumers will not have the assurance that organically-produced products meet a consistent and uniform standard as there will be continued inconsistency among organic livestock producers. Nor will certifying agents be able to make consistent certification decisions and facilitate fairness and transparency for the organic producers and consumers that participate in the market.

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AMS expects this rule to maintain consumer confidence in the high standards represented by the USDA organic seal. This action would promote consistency among certifying agents to uniformly verify and enforce clear requirements for organic livestock.  AMS estimates that annualized benefits for increased or sustained demand for organic products is $14.5 to $34 million per year. The cost of implementing the rule would fall primarily on organic poultry operations that may need to purchase and transition additional land to organic production and modify existing poultry structures to come into compliance with this rule. AMS estimates that the annualized cost to the organic industry for this rule is $13 to 15.6 million per year.

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AMS expects that a few provisions among the numerous proposed will be contentious.

]]> NPRM 04/13/2016 81 FR 21955 NPRM Comment Period End 06/13/2016 Final Action 12/00/2016 Yes Businesses None No Yes No Miles McEvoy V. Deputy Administrator, USDA National Organic Program 0581 Agricultural Marketing Service AMS 202 720-3252 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington DC 20250