Court to Hear OTA Suit Against USDA Organic Livestock Rule Withdraw

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia last week agreed to hear a challenge by the Organic Trade Association against the Department of Agriculture.  OTA is challenging the agencies decision and process to withdraw organic livestock standards.  USDA in March withdrew the final Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices regulation, which was to go into effect in May.

The agency contends that the Organic Food and Production Act does not give the National Organic Program the authority to regulate animal welfare.  The Organic Trade Association is arguing that the claim is a radically different view from any administration since the adoption of the National Organic Program, and one that cannot be legally supported.  The Organic Trade Association filed its original lawsuit against USDA in September of 2017 over the agency’s continued delay of the final organic welfare standard.

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