Livestock and poultry producers will need to comply with more specific standards if they want to label their products organic under final rules announced on Oct. 25 by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA’s new Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards are being implemented after years of discussions with organics groups, farming organizations and livestock and poultry producers.
“USDA is creating a fairer, more competitive and transparent food system,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “This organic poultry and livestock standard establishes clear and strong standards that will increase the consistency of animal welfare practices in organic production and in how these practices are enforced.”
Photo: AFP 照片：法新社
The Organic Trade Association pushed hard for the new regulations, which the group said would promote consumer trust and ensure all competing companies would abide by the same rules.
“These new standards not only create a more level playing field for organic producers, but they ensure consumers that the organic meat, poultry, dairy and eggs they choose have been raised with plenty of access to the real outdoors, and in humane conditions,” said Tom Chapman, the association’s CEO, in a statement.
The final rules cover areas including outdoor space requirements, living conditions for animals, maximum density regulations for poultry and how animals are cared for and transported for slaughter.
Photo: AFP 照片：法新社
Under the rules, organic poultry must have year-round access to the outdoors. Organic livestock also must have year-round outdoor access and be able to move and stretch at all times. There are additional requirements for pigs regarding their ability to root and live in group housing.
Producers have a year to comply with the rules, with poultry operations given four additional years to meet rules covering outdoor space requirement for egg layers and density requirements for meat chickens.
John Brunnquell, president of Indiana-based Egg Innovations, one of the nation’s largest free-range and pasture-raised egg operations, said the new rules would help him compete with companies that have an organic label but don’t now give their hens daily access to the outdoors and actual ground, rather than a concrete pad.
Photo: AFP 照片：法新社
“All of us worked under the same USDA seal, so a consumer really never knew how their organic eggs were being produced,” Brunnquell said.
The USDA’s National Organic Program will oversee the new rules, working with certifiers accredited by the agency.
(AP)
Photo: AP 照片：美聯社
根據10月25日公布美國農業部所拍板底定的規範，畜牧業與家禽生產商若要將其產品標示為「有機」，須遵循一些更特定的標準。
經與有機農業倡議團體、農業組織及畜禽生產商多年的討論，美國農業部將實施新的「有機畜禽標準」。
「美國農業部正創造一個更公平、更具競爭力和透明的食品體系」，農業部長湯姆‧維爾薩克透過一份聲明表示。「這份有機家禽與畜牧產品標準建立了明確而強有力的規範，讓有機生產中的動物福利做法及其實施方式的一致性提高」。
大力催生該新法規的有機貿易協會表示，新法規將增進消費者的信任，並確保所有競爭公司都遵循相同的規範。
「這些新標準不僅為有機生產商創造了更公平的競爭環境，更擔保消費者所選購的有機肉品、禽肉、乳製品與蛋品是出自人道的飼養，動物有足夠的機會接觸真正的戶外環境」，有機貿易協會執行長湯姆‧查普曼在一份聲明中說。
該規範之涵蓋領域包括戶外空間要求、動物生活條件、家禽的最大密度規定，以及動物照顧與運送至屠宰場的方式。
根據規定，有機飼養的家禽必須全年都能到戶外去。有機飼養的家畜也必須全年都能在戶外活動，且隨時都能移動及伸展。對於養豬還有其他規定，使其能夠拱土及在群舍中生活。
業者有一年的時間可以準備，以符合這些規定，家禽養殖場則外加四年，以便能符合蛋雞飼養的室外空間要求，及肉雞飼養密度的相關規定。
總部位於印第安納州的創新蛋品公司（Egg Innovations）是美國最大的散養（free-range）及放養（pasture-raised）蛋商之一，其總裁約翰‧布倫奎爾表示，新法規將幫助他與那些標榜為有機，但已不再讓母雞每天去戶外、走在真正的地上而非水泥墊的公司競爭。
「我們都是在美國農業部同一個認證規章之下，所以消費者真的永遠不知道他們買的有機蛋品是如何生產出來的」，布倫奎爾說。
美國農業部的國家有機計畫將與農業部認可的認證機構合作，以監督新規定的實施。
（台北時報林俐凱編譯）
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