Courtesy of the National Farmers Union
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) reopened the public comment period for the Origin of Livestock proposed rule, which would more clearly define regulations for transitioning conventional livestock into organic production. The rule was originally published in 2015, but was withdrawn in 2018.
Currently, organic policy allows a one-time transition of livestock from conventional to organic production. However, it has been inconsistently enforced. While some certifiers strictly adhere to the policy, others have allowed farmers to remove calves from organic herds, raise them using practices prohibited under organic regulations, and then transition them back to organic management when they are ready to be milked. This practice has put farmers that play by the rules at a competitive disadvantage and has undermined the integrity of the organic label.
The proposed rule would strengthen current regulations, ensuring that all farmers are only able to transition once. Though USDA had previously indicated that it planned to release a new origin of organic livestock rule this year, the agency decided instead to reopen this older rule for public comment. The comment period will be open here through December 2.
National Farmers Union (NFU), which has long advocated stronger and more consistent organic policies, supports the rule and has urged Congress to address the issue.
It is important to note that both the House and Senate’s fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations bills would require USDA to finalize the 2015 proposed rule within 180 days. Depending on when the appropriations packaged is passed by Congress, it is possible that the rule’s fate will be sealed long before the comment period is over.