In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) contracted with Vukina et al. Consulting to conduct a regulatory impact analysis on proposed changes to living standards for organic poultry. Vukina et al. Consulting completed three major steps (or phases) to conduct work under this contract:
- Phase 1: Evaluate and Document a Baseline Scope of the Industry
- Phase 2: Conduct Economic Impact Analysis of the Proposed Rule
- Phase 3: Prepare the Economic Analysis for Inclusion in Proposed Regulations
The objective of this project was to provide an independent economic impact analysis of possible regulatory changes for the living conditions for organic poultry, including a justification of the methodology. The complete analysis estimates the costs and benefits of implementing the proposed rule, compared with alternatives (as per Executive Order 12866). Alternatives will include (1) no change to existing rule, (2) regulatory Option 2 and summarized in Table A-1, and (3) regulatory Option 3 summarized in Table A-2. All work was conducted to comply with the USDA Information Quality Activities Regulatory Guidelines.