For immediate release
Contact: Holly Givens, 413-376-1218; hgivens@ota.com

Proposed pasture requirements:
Organic Trade Association’s initial impression is favorable

Greenfield, Mass. (Oct. 23, 2008)--The U. S. Department of Agriculture tomorrow will publish proposed regulations that will clarify issues around pasture requirements for organic ruminant livestock. The Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) initial impression is that this regulation will continue to reinforce for shoppers that organic dairy products and beef, for example, are from animals that are receiving proper feed, access to fresh air and sunshine, and well-managed living conditions.

OTA believes that these proposed regulations are in the spirit of practices that most organic farmers have been using on their lands for years., Organic businesses have sought clarification of pasture requirements in order to facilitate compliance and enforcement of stringent federal organic regulations in place since 2002.