We strongly oppose USDA’s proposal to withdrawal the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) rule. The National Organic Program is not keeping up with consumer expectations and market demands.
USDA should implement the organic animal welfare rule without further delay. The rule is the result of 10-years- work among stakeholders.
Comments to National Organic Program: Amend animal welfare provisions for physical alterations, ammonia levels in poultry barns, outdoor access/living conditions, and slaughter.
PCC urges the Senate Appropriations committee to reject efforts to weaken or suspend Country-of-Origin Labeling in budget legislation.
Industry-proposed legislative riders would limit the Secretary of Agriculture's rulemaking authority to fight anticompetitive practices in livestock. The Appropriations Committee must reject them.
USDA proposes to loosen regulations on importing livestock into U.S., increasing risks of Foot and Mouth Disease from foreign animals.
The Obama Administration took steps to reduce antibiotics in livestock. PCC urges further action to eliminate antibiotics when there's no disease. FDA should increase monitoring and reporting.
This amendment would ban ownership of livestock by mega-meatpackers (Tyson, JBS, Smithfield). It's an anti-competitive practice that packers use to concentrate power and control the market.
Consolidation in the livestock industry poses a serious threat to the market. PCC suggests several methods to protect small producers and consumers from the negative impacts of consolidation.
Ammonia levels must be lowered in chicken barns and organic rules should ensure two square feet of living space indoors, five square feet outdoors. Hogs need more room, too.
Recommendations for poultry living conditions are inadequate to meet consumer expectations. Bending to industrial producers hurts family farmers with integrity.
In partnership with The Humane Society, we ask farmers to support I-1130 to ban intensive confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages.
Our coalition urges Congress to support Fam Bill measures to restore fair markets and competition in the livestock industry. They would reduce deception, collusion and retaliation against farmers.
PCC joined 377 health, environment, animal protection, and agricultural groups to limit seven classes of antibiotics in livestock.
PCC supports funding a co-op slaughterhouse to service small Washington ranchers, enabling them to sell prime meats directly to retailers or customers.
USDA-GIPSA has full authority to address unfair practices and manipulative schemes in the livestock and poultry industry, a result of consolidation. A proposed rule would ensure competition.
Consumer aversion to feedlots exceeds tolerance for an exemption to pasturing beef, sheep and goats. We advocate label clarity: "Organic Grass-fed" or "Organic Grain-finished."
We ask USDA to restore rules that prevented Canadian cattle older than 30 months from entering the U.S. Canada's protocols are weak, with 18 cases of BSE (mad cow disease) confirmed.
USDA proposes to change import standards for cattle that are weak and not followed by any U.S. export customer. We need rules to protect U.S. cattle from BSE.
Recommendations address popholes and space in henhouses, the age of slaughter for chickens, milking regimens, closed herds and Johne's testing.
PCC joined 354 other groups to support a bill that would restrict unnecessary antibiotics in livestock and deter antibiotic-resistant strains from evolving.
Microchipping livestock causes cancer, would put small farmers out of business, and is not a good way to address food safety or disease.
We ask that the comment period be extended so farmers have more time to consider the proposed Pasture Rule carefully.
This project would serve meat producers in the South Puget Sound area and support local ranchers lacking access to processing facilities.
Section 28 of EHG 3381 eliminates inspecting cattle crossing the border from Canada into Washington. Governor Gregoire should veto this section.
USDA's proposal fails to give consumers accurate information and does not meet expectations. It would allow cloned animals and animals raised in confinement without pasture.
This proposed bill would withdraw approvals for seven classes of antibiotics. It would preserve their effectiveness against diseases where no other treatment exists for humans.
PCC proposes changes to strengthen grazing and pasture requirements for organic ruminants. This would close loopholes being exploited by factory farms.
Some dairy farm operators are not ensuring outdoor access and pasturing their cows. We need regulations to maintain organic integrity.
In an unprecedented action, FDA for the first time withdraws approval for some fluoroquinolones in poultry.
An antibiotic used in poultry is linked to fluoroquinolone resistance in treating food-borne illness in humans. Bayer should comply with an FDA proposal to ban it.
PCC supports Rep. Sherrod Brown in proposing restrictions on use of antibiotics in livestock. Studies indicate this practice is creating drug-resistant pathogens, posing a threat to human health.
