USDA Updates Definition of “organic”
Words like “organic” and even “free-to-run” are more of a marketing language than anything else, but now the Department of Agriculture has changed that a bit. The new rule sets stricter USDA criteria for products labeled “organic.”
The new rule will not be fully implemented until March 2018, giving farmers time to adjust to the new standards if they want to maintain their eco-label. By current standards, the organic label has nothing to do with animal welfare. Basically, it simply refers to restrictions on what to feed the animals and when they are given antibiotics. Some consumers know this; others believe that “organic” means the humane treatment of animals. This change does not necessarily mean that “organic” meat will be healthier, but it does make the label less misleading.
According to the new rule, farmers must allow animals to go outside at least once a day on vegetation or soil – closed entrances do not count. It also lays down rules for minimum space requirements and prevents certain physical changes to the animal (such as removing the beak). A spokesman for the United States Animal Welfare Society told the LA Times :
This rule is a game changer for the $ 40 billion organic market, where consumers often believe that organic farm animals are raised to strict animal welfare standards.
For more information, follow the links below.
National Organic Program (NOP); Organic Livestock and Poultry (PDF) | Department of Agriculture via Consumerist