The USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service has announced public sessions to review recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board.  This action is in accordance with the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act introduced into the House in April 2021 by six sponsors supported by 20 co-sponsors.  This legislation expedites rule-making and contributes to the integrity of the USDA Certified Organic seal.

Mandated outside access for hens producing eggs under the USDA Organic program will be a contentious issue having been favored by the Secretary during his tenure under the previous Democratic Administration and revived since the 2020 election. Enforcing outside access would disqualify many in-line aviary complexes and would reduce the availability of USDA Certified Organic eggs, driving up price of eggs derived from floor-housed barn flocks with outside access.