One of the architects of the Bush-Cheney torture regime has just been nominated to head up the CIA, so it should not be any surprise that the Trump administration is gung-ho to allow animal torture again. The Obama rule-setting new standards for animal welfare for animal products designated as "certified organic" are out the door.
"The existing robust organic livestock and poultry regulations are effective," Greg Ibach, under secretary of Agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs, said in a statement.
Finalized under the Obama administration in April 2016, the rule largely dictated how producers and handlers participating in the National Organic Program are required to treat livestock and poultry to ensure their wellbeing.
The rule stipulated, for example, that poultry must be housed in spaces that are big enough for the birds to move freely, stretch their wings, stand normally and engage in natural behaviors. Livestock, meanwhile, must be provided access to an outdoor space year round.
Ibach's statement says that the "organic industry's continued growth domestically and globally shows that consumers trust the current approach that balances consumer expectations and the needs of organic producers and handlers." The organic industry, however, is not so sanguine about their health absent these rules. The Organic Trade Association (OTA) sued the USDA in September for delaying this rule, and is amending the suit now that the administration is tossing it.
"The USDA's unconscionable action does not deter us," said Laura Batcha, the group’s CEO and executive director. "USDA has requested that this case be dismissed; now they have announced they are withdrawing the rule. But this issue will not go away. This latest action by USDA will only invigorate and solidify more support for this regulation." The integrity of the "certified organic" label is at stake for these growers. The expectation for consumers buying organic meat and animal products is that it is raised humanely and sustainably.