Date
June 07, 2016
The U. S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule to amend organic livestock and poultry practices until July 13, 2016, to allow stakeholders additional time to provide feedback on the proposed rule.
The rule published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2016, and the comment period was slated to close on June 13, 2016. AMS received requests to both extend and not extend the comment period. The proposal aims to ensure consistent application of the USDA organic regulations for organic livestock and poultry operations and maintain confidence in organically labeled products. The proposed changes are based on recommendations by the National Organic Standards Board and incorporate years of public comment and suggestions by stakeholders.
Public participation and comments are vital to USDA's work in organic agriculture. The organic community, stakeholders, and consumers are invited to submit written comments on the proposed rule by visiting www.regulations.gov. Comments can also be submitted by mail using the process outlined in the proposed rule, to Paul Lewis, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-0268.