OLPP Final Rule has been Delayed

BY MOSA Certified Organic | Nov 15, 2017

The USDA AMS has announced the delay of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule until May, 14, 2018. The USDA notice, and the link to the full Federal Register text is below.

MOSA continues to support implementation of the new Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rule. Collectively, our staff has already spent hundreds of hours making Organic System Plan (OSP) updates and changes to our processes, policies, and training. This rule represents over a decade of work, including multiple opportunities for public comment. MOSA has diligently gathered data and input from our clients at all stages of the process, and your feedback and support for this rule change have been reflected in our public comments. We believe that the organic community, including its consumers, overwhelmingly support the implementation of this rule. Over 47,000 comments were submitted to the USDA, and almost all were in support of the rule moving forward.

The Organic Trade Association has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeking judicial review of the Trump Administration's delay of final organic livestock production rules. The lawsuit is pending and the USDA must answer it by mid-November. For more information visit the OTA website.

MOSA will keep you updated on opportunities for comment, and new developments related to the OLPP.

Sincerely,

The MOSA Certification Team

Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Delay of Effective Date

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is delaying the effective date of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017.

During the course of reviewing the OLPP Rule, in addition to a question about the scope of the statutory authority, a material error in the record was discovered. USDA is delaying the rule so that important questions, such as the likely costs and benefits, can be more fully assessed through the notice and comment process prior to making a final decision on the direction of the rule.

The OLPP final rule amends the organic livestock and poultry production requirements by adding 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 and mammalian living conditions.

More information: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/11/14/2017-24675/national-organic-program-nop-organic-livestock-and-poultry-practices