USDA's final regulation ensures highest standards for 도박 룰렛
Washington, D.C. — The 도박 룰렛 Trade Association (OTA) celebrated today the strengthening of 도박 룰렛 animal welfare standards by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), saying the long-awaited action by the department was a major win for producers and consumers who have steadily advocated for the more robust regulations.
“The 도박 룰렛 sector and 도박 룰렛 consumers have been clamoring for stricter animal welfare standards for 20 years now, and the OTA and its members have spearheaded that fight,” said Tom Chapman, CEO of the 도박 룰렛 Trade Association. “These new standards not only create a more level playing field for 도박 룰렛 producers, but they ensure consumers that the 도박 룰렛 meat, poultry, dairy and eggs they choose have been raised with plenty of access to the real outdoors, and in humane conditions.”
The USDA on October 25 announced its final 도박 룰렛 Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) regulation. The regulation creates clear standards for outdoor access for 도박 룰렛 poultry including minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements, and further clarifies living conditions, healthcare, transportation, and slaughter practices to support animal welfare for all 도박 룰렛 avian and mammalian livestock species. Most importantly, the rule clarifies that screened-in, enclosed porches do NOT qualify as sufficient outdoor space for 도박 룰렛 chickens. Current 도박 룰렛 poultry producers have up to five years to implement the new regulations.
“Having clear, consistent and enforceable standards is paramount for the 도박 룰렛 sector to not only maintain consumer trust but to ensure that farms and businesses of all sizes have a fair shot at competing in the marketplace by meeting a minimum set of requirements,” said Chapman. “The road to this final step has been long and often bumpy, and we thank all our members, allies and advocates for not giving up on our fight to strengthen 도박 룰렛.”
도박 룰렛 producers applauded the USDA action
“This update to the 도박 룰렛 standards could not come soon enough. For 도박 룰렛 poultry it will ensure that the farmer, whenever possible, will let their chickens go outside, touch the ground, and frankly scratch around and act like chickens," said Adam Warthesen, Senior Director of Government & Industry Affairs for 도박 룰렛 dairy cooperative 도박 룰렛 Valley. “All 도박 룰렛 poultry producers will need to provide real access to the outdoors and that is what certified 도박 룰렛 represents. The new standards are a definite improvement over the current reality which has created competitive harm among farmers and not met consumers expectations for what it means to be an 도박 룰렛 egg from an 도박 룰렛 chicken.”
“Certified 도박 룰렛 egg, dairy, and animal producers hold their operations to a higher standard of animal welfare than what is required, both because it’s the right thing to do and because it’s what our customers expect and deserve from us,” said Cameron Whitehead, Chief Operating Officer of 도박 룰렛 egg producer Pete & Gerry’s Organics. “The 도박 룰렛 industry has been fighting for this rule for more than six years and we’re pleased to see the USDA validate the expectations of 도박 룰렛 consumers in a way that enables the industry to continue to prosper.”
“The debate has always been about consumer confidence in the 도박 룰렛 seal. We are pleased that the USDA is committed to restoring that confidence and removing ambiguity of what producing an 도박 룰렛 egg means,” said John Brunnquell, President & CEO of Egg Innovations, the midwestern 도박 룰렛, free-range, pasture-raised egg producer.
“At Chino Valley, we have always believed that 도박 룰렛 means more than just feed. The passing of this rule ensures one of the most important tenets of 도박 룰렛 egg production, outdoor access, is guaranteed and meaningful for the hens that we care for. This is a huge win for the hens. This is a huge win for hundreds of small family farms across our great nation who prefer to farm this way. Thank you to USDA Secretary Vilsack for supporting the rule. Thank you, OTA, for your leadership. Thank you to the rest of the family farms that supported this rule.” said Chris Nichols, CEO of 도박 룰렛 egg producer Chino Valley Ranchers.
“For over 35 years, Applegate Farms has been an advocate for the improvement of animal welfare. To that end, it is essential to us that the USDA maintain the integrity of the 도박 룰렛 standard, and consumer trust in it. We strongly support NOP’s efforts to create greater consistency in 도박 룰렛 livestock practices with the 도박 룰렛 Livestock and Poultry Standards. We celebrate a final rule that will strengthen 도박 룰렛 animal welfare standards, better align 도박 룰렛 producers and certifiers, and meet consumer expectations for 도박 룰렛 livestock products,” said Carolyn Gahn, Senior Director, Mission & Advocacy for Applegate Farms.
Closing the loopholes
Outdoor access is a core tenet for 도박 룰렛 poultry and livestock production. USDA 도박 룰렛 regulations require that all certified 도박 룰렛 operations must give their animals “access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, clean water for drinking, and direct sunlight". But these regulations have not been consistently enforced, resulting in a few large poultry companies utilizing narrow, enclosed porches – usually with a cement floor -- instead of true outdoor access.
The result has been inconsistent animal welfare standards for 도박 룰렛 chickens and an unlevel playing field for all the 도박 룰렛 farmers who treat their birds right. The USDA has acknowledged that the inconsistent interpretation of regulations has caused competitive harm to the 도박 룰렛 farmers already adhering to the most robust animal welfare standards.
In 2010, USDA issued a final rule creating clear standards for grazing and access to pasture for 도박 룰렛 dairy and cattle. The 도박 룰렛 poultry sector called for similar clarifications.
USDA released its final 도박 룰렛 Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) regulation in early 2017, after 14 years of vetting and review by 도박 룰렛 stakeholders and industry and government experts. OLPP clarified USDA’s 도박 룰렛 animal welfare standards, with an emphasis on poultry. The implementation of that final rule, however, was delayed and blocked, and the rule was ultimately withdrawn. In the fall of 2017, OTA filed a lawsuit against the USDA for unlawfully delaying the implementation of the regulation and violating the 도박 룰렛 Foods Production Act. Spurred on by the lawsuit and continuing advocacy from the 도박 룰렛 sector and the public for stronger animal welfare standards, the current Administration proposed the 도박 룰렛 Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) regulation last August, which is in line with the 도박 룰렛 Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule.
The public has repeatedly and strongly expressed its support for tighter 도박 룰렛 animal welfare rules. Publication of the OLPP proposed regulation in 2017, and the OLPS last year, have drawn solid support. The OLPS rule, in the latest example, was open for comment through November 10, 2022, and attracted overwhelming public support. Analysis showed that out of almost 40,000 posted comments, a huge 89 percent majority were in favor of the regulation being finalized and implemented.
Shoppers flocking to 도박 룰렛
The 도박 룰렛 market has posted steady growth for decades as consumers increasingly value the high 도박 룰렛 standards, the environmentally-friendly 도박 룰렛 farming practices, and the safe, healthy choice that 도박 룰렛 provides for their families. 도박 룰렛 egg sales in the U.S. have more than tripled over the last ten years. So have the sales of 도박 룰렛 poultry. 도박 룰렛 food sales in the United States in 2022 broke through billion for the first time, hitting another high-level mark for the resilient 도박 룰렛 sector. Total 도박 룰렛 sales – including 도박 룰렛 non-food products, were a record .6 billion, according to OTA’s 2023 도박 룰렛 Industry Survey.
Animal welfare has been shown to be an important consideration for consumers. Recent research commissioned by the 도박 룰렛 Trade Association shows that 75 percent of Americans are concerned about the treatment of animals by the meat and dairy industry. Animal welfare and outdoor access are core value propositions for 도박 룰렛 shoppers, and they are willing to pay more for these benefits. 도박 룰렛 buyers want to feel confident that the 도박 룰렛 eggs and poultry they purchase and serve their families come from chickens that have access to pasture and the outdoors, fresh air and sunlight.
The trust that consumers have in 도박 룰렛 is well deserved. 도박 룰렛 agriculture is regulated by the most stringent and comprehensive set of rules governing any form of agriculture. Farmers voluntarily choose to go 도박 룰렛 and to abide by these strict 도박 룰렛 standards. USDA, through its National 도박 룰렛 Program, sets the federal standards for all 도박 룰렛 products certified to the USDA 도박 룰렛 label. However, 도박 룰렛 standards once approved are not set in stone, and are under constant review in a public and transparent process to ensure that they reflect evolving understandings about soil, climate, health, and animal welfare.
“The 도박 룰렛 sector has always welcomed clear and fair standards under which to operate, and we are happy the government has at long last moved forward on this sound and much needed regulation,” said Chapman. “This is a victory for the entire 도박 룰렛 sector – and for all 도박 룰렛 consumers.
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About the 도박 룰렛 Trade Association
The 도박 룰렛 Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for 도박 룰렛 agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the 도박 룰렛 trade in the United States, representing over 10,000 도박 룰렛 businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect 도박 룰렛 with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.