Is “Organic” Humane?

Many consumers mistakenly assume that the “USDA Organic” label reflects heightened animal welfare standards. In fact, few standards in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) relate to animal welfare, even though the USDA has authority over “the care of livestock.” Current NOP standards minimally require producers to provide livestock and poultry organic feed, sanitary living conditions, and adequate care to maintain their health. NOP standards focus predominantly on creating uniformity among organically produced agricultural products. These standards address the production, processing, marketing, and labeling of organic products—but they do not address important animal welfare concerns like living space, pain control measures, slaughter, and transportation.

In response to this regulatory gap, interest groups have called on USDA to incorporate more meaningful animal welfare standards in the NOP. In 2017, USDA promulgated the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) rule, which added various animal welfare standards to the NOP, but was ultimately delayed and withdrawn—despite broad support from farmers, consumers, animal advocacy organizations, and the NOP’s own advisory board. Recently, the Biden administration has signaled its willingness to consider reinstating the rule and while the fate of the OLPP remains uncertain, it is clear that many organic producers are still not adopting the animal welfare standards that consumers expect.

This brief examines the movement to include animal welfare standards in the National Organic Program, from analyzing consumer perceptions of the USDA Organic label, to exploring the legal context and evolving status of the OLPP rule. It also includes policy considerations for advocates seeking to inform consumers and advance animal welfare through the National Organic Program.