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ORGANIC LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRACTICES PROPOSED RULE Questions and Answers — April 2016 General Questions and Explanations What does the proposed rule do? USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP) sets and enforces clear and consistent standards for organic production. By strengthening standards for organic livestock and poultry production, the proposal aims to clarify how organic producers and handlers must treat livestock and poultry to ensure their health and wellbeing throughout life, including transport and slaughter. The proposed rule addresses four broad areas of organic livestock and poultry practices, including living conditions, animal healthcare, transport, and slaughter. Existing practices for mammalian living conditions and health care are clarified and expanded. New provisions are proposed for poultry living conditions, and for both mammalian and poultry handling, transport, and slaughter. Why is the proposed rule necessary? The proposed rule is needed to bring greater consistency and transparency to organic livestock practices. It is consistent with multiple recommendations — most recently in 2011— from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the 15-member Federal advisory committee whose members represent the breadth of the organic sector. It also responds to a report from the USDA's Office of the Inspector General, which recommended that USDA take action to ensure the consistent interpretation of current rules for poultry access to the outdoors. And it responds to direction in both the Organic Foods Production Act and the final rule that created the National Organic Program to develop standards for livestock. Finally the rulemaking takes into account significant public input on these issues. Aren't organic standards already in place for organic livestock and poultry? The current USDA organic regulations have broad and general requirements for ensuring the welfare of organic livestock and poultry. For all livestock, the regulations require an environment that allows animals to express natural behaviors; preventive health care to reduce the likelihood of illness; and protection from conditions that jeopardize an animal's well-being, such as predators and adverse weather. The proposed rule adds specificity to animal production and handling requirements of organic production, which will allow USDA to ensure consistency and transparency across organic production and handling systems, bolstering consumer confidence and strengthening the market for organic products. How does this proposal improve the existing regulations? The proposed rule clarifies existing requirements, proposes new areas of standards, and protects the integrity of the organic seal. While the existing regulations already require grazing on pasture and access to the outdoors for ruminants, this proposed rule clarifies and expands other aspects of mammalian living conditions and practices for health care. USDA is proposing new detailed standards for mammalian and poultry handling, transport, and slaughter, and for poultry living conditions. April 6, 2016