Notice of Meeting of National Organic Standards Board

Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.

I am writing to comment on the LivestockCommittee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increaseanimal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

I am a regular organic food consumer and want to comment on the LivestockCommittee's animal welfare proposals. They are a good start toward a humane animal welfare program for organic food production, but they are not enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Mutilation such as routine beak trimming of birds, and tail docking of sheep, as well as other cruelty, e.g., early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. These modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what I and other consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

AMS-NOP-11-0081 I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committiee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare programfor organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Commeittee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, i believe that: 1. Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. 2. Space allowances for chickens should beincreased from 1-2 sq. ft. per bird to 5 sq.ft. per bird. 3. the regulation should include mim, requirements for quality of oitdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. 4. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulations. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.

My family makes purchasing decisions based on the belief that the government fairly and humanely regulates how food is labeled. Apparently, that is naive. I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: 1.Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. 2.Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. 3.The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. 4.Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment. Thank you for allowing me to express my opinion and I truly hope for the animals sake that it makes a darn! Carla Jasper, 23078 Carr Lane, Cape Charles, VA 23310

I am writing to comment on the Livestock Committee's animal welfare proposals. While the proposed recommendations are a good start toward creating a comprehensive animal welfare program for organic production, they do not go far enough. For this reason, I support the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion, which provides more meaningful standards that address natural behavior, outdoor access, and the environment. More specifically, I believe that: Minimum space allowances for pigs should be incorporated into regulation, just as avian space requirements are included. Space allowances for chickens should be increased from 1-2 sq ft per bird to 5 sq ft per bird. The regulation should include minimum requirements for the quality of outdoor access areas for both pigs and poultry. Routine beak trimming of birds, tail docking of sheep, early weaning of pigs and all forms of forced molting should be specifically prohibited in regulation. Making these modifications will increase animal welfare and help bring organic standards closer to what consumers expect of the label. Adoption of the Livestock Committee's Minority Opinion is a critical step towards achieving the Committee's goal of making the organic seal a "gold standard" for humane treatment.