Updated on : 06-11-2023

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) amends the organic livestock and poultry production requirements by adding new provisions for livestock handling and transport, slaughter, and avian (poultry) living conditions; and expanding and clarifying existing requirements covering livestock care and production practices and non-avian living conditions. These changes will ensure organically produced foods meet a transparent and consistent standard to allow the industry to maintain consumer confidence in USDA organic products, to align with consumer expectations regarding outdoor access, and to further facilitate interstate commerce in organic products.Effective Date: This rule is effective 1 January 2024. Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 205Compliance Dates: All organic operations must comply with the requirements of this rule by 2 January 2025, except: (1) Currently certified organic layer operations and layer operations that are certified before 2 January 2025, must comply with the Sec. Sec. 205.241(c)(2), (c)(4), and (c)(5), concerning outdoor stocking density requirements and soil and vegetation requirements, by 2 January 2029. (2) Currently certified organic broiler operations and broiler operations that are certified before 2 January 2025, must comply with Sec. Sec. 205.241(b)(10), (c)(2), and (c)(6), concerning indoor and outdoor stocking density requirements and soil and vegetation requirements, by 5 January 2029. (3) Currently certified organic poultry operations and poultry operations that are certified before 2 January 2025 must comply with Sec. [thinsp]205.241(b)(4), concerning poultry house exit area requirements, by 2 January 2029.    For more information, see the IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE DATES FOR THE FINAL RULE section of this document. This final rule and previous actions notified under the symbol G/TBT/N/USA/1910 are identified by Docket Number AMS-NOP-21-0073. The Docket Folder is available from Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/AMS-NOP-21-0073/document and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number.