A ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will allow a lawsuit by the Organic Trade Association against USDA over its withdrawal of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rule to proceed.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer on [October 4] denied USDA’s petition to dismiss the lawsuit and granted OTA’s request for oral arguments at a date and time to be determined.
The rule, finalized in the waning days of the Obama administration, included new standards for raising, transporting and slaughtering organic animals.
USDA withdrew the rule in March, stating the rule exceeds the agency’s statutory authority under the National Organic Program and could have a negative effect on voluntary participation in the program.
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The rule, which was set to go into effect March 20, 2017, was first delayed by a regulatory freeze by incoming President Donald Trump. USDA delayed implementation twice more before announcing in December — after taking public comment — it intended to withdraw the rule, which it did in February.
Read full, original article: Court denies USDA motion to dismiss organic lawsuit
