Organic Livestock Rule Comment Period

 

The Department of Agriculture reopened the public comment period for the National Organic Program Origin of Livestock proposed rule.

First introduced in 2015, the proposal would add requirements about transitioning dairy animals to organic production.

Current regulations provide two tracks for replacing dairy animals which are tied to how dairy farmers transition to organic production.

The proposed action would eliminate the two-track system and require that upon transition, all existing and replacement dairy animals from which milk or milk products are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic, must be managed organically from the last third of gestation.

The National Organic Program received 1,580 public comments during the original comment period in 2015.

USDA will consider all public comments in developing a final rule, including comments from 2015 and the new comment period.

The comment period is open for 60 days and will close December 2, 2019.