Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) made the following remarks in response to the Trump administration’s decision to delay the effective date of the controversial and overreaching final rule on organic livestock and poultry practices that was pushed through in the final hours of the Obama administration:

“The organic livestock rule goes far beyond the scope of the National Organic Program, threatening animal health and food safety, and jeopardizing the livelihoods of numerous farmers and ranchers. While I believe withdrawing this costly and unworkable regulation is the best way to provide certainty to livestock and poultry producers across the nation, I do appreciate that Sec. Perdue and his team are taking extra time to evaluate the full implications of the rule. I am hopeful the Trump administration’s commitment to regulatory reform will result in the continued roll-back of burdensome regulations like this one”

The organic livestock rule, initially proposed in April of 2016, vastly expands the list of required animal welfare practices for organic livestock production. Chief among the arbitrarily prescriptive requirements are mandates on outdoor access for poultry that are opposed by numerous industry experts due to the increased risk of diseases for the animals and food-borne illness for consumers.