Recall that back in April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed stricter federal rules governing organic livestock and poultry farmers, and that late last month, the Republican and Democrat leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on the Department to grant a 90-day extension of the public comment period for this proposed rule.
A news release yesterday from the Senate Agriculture Committee stated that, “U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted their request for an extension of the public comment period for the agency’s proposed rule regarding revised organic livestock and poultry production standards.
“‘We are pleased the USDA acted immediately to allow producers, consumers, retailers and animal health experts more time to offer their comments on the proposed rules,’ the lawmakers said. ‘We will continue to work with the Department to address the concerns being raised by our constituents.'”
