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In the News, Fall 2022: New Regulations for Organic Dairy Farms
On March 29, 2022, the US Department of Agriculture published the Origin of Livestock (OOP) final rule for organic dairy, to help ensure that all dairy products bearing the USDA organic label are produced to the same consistent standard.
The new rule will prevent the current practice by some organic dairies of continually transitioning nonorganic animals – raised using antibiotics and pesticide-sprayed GMO feed – into their herds or cycling animals in and out of organic management.
In brief, the OOP final rule allows new organic dairy farms, and farms converting to organic operations to transition nonorganic livestock on a one-time basis by managing them organically for twelve months. After a farm is certified as organic, it is prohibited from transitioning additional nonorganic animals to organic milk production or sourcing them from other farms. Additionally, for milk and milk products to be certified USDA organic, the animals must be continuously under organic management from the last third of gestation.
The new regulations went into effect on June 6, and the compliance date for certified organic operations is April 5, 2023. Variances may be requested by small farms for a few specific scenarios.
Sources: USDA publishes origin of livestock final rule for organic dairy. US Department of Agriculture Press Release No. 0069-22, March 29, 2022. usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/03/29/usda-publishes-origin-livestock-final-rule-organic-dairy.
Origin of organic dairy livestock. Organic Trade Association, accessed September 5, 2022. ota.com/advocacy/critical-issues/origin-organic-dairy-livestock.
Published in the Price-Pottenger Journal of Health & Healing
Fall 2022 | Volume 46, Number 3
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