Comments on Legislation, Rulemaking, and Voluntary Standards

The Animal Welfare Institute works to secure protections for animals in agriculture by engaging with key policymakers at the state, federal and international levels. AWI regularly provides public comments, testimony and similar input to such bodies in furtherance of our mission to reduce animal suffering. Examples of AWI public comments, testimony, and other input can be found below in downloadable PDF format.

Section Quicklinks

On Farm Practices | Transport | Slaughter | Marketing | Miscellaneous

On-Farm Practices

Comments to National Academies of Sciences on HPAI Research Priorities October 2024
Comments on APHIS HPAI Response Activities Draft Programmatic EIS September 2024
Comments to NFPA Standards Council Opposing Industry Sprinkler Requirement Appeal August 2024
Comments on FDA Guidance for Industry on Genomic Alterations in Animals July 2024
Comments on AVMA Sow Housing Policy June 2024
Comments on AVMA Laying Hen Housing Policy February 2024
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Pain Relief November 2023
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Euthanasia and Handling Standards October 2023
Letter to USDA FSA on Disaster Planning April 2023
Letter to National Dairy FARM Program on Fire Safety April 2023
Scoping Comments to USDA on High Pathogenic Avian Influenza Control February 2023
Letter to United Egg Producers on Bird Depopulation October 2022
Comments on Michigan’s Generally Accepted Agricultural Practices for the Care of Farm Animals August 2022
Letter to National Milk Producers Federation on Dairy Welfare Standards August 2022
Letter to US Fire Administration on Reporting of Animal Deaths in Barn Fires August 2022
Comments to USDA on Packers and Stockyards Act Rulemaking August 2022
Letter to USDA on Depopulation Methods Used During 2022 HPAI Outbreak July 2022
Letter to AVMA Depopulation Panel May 2022
Comments to USDA on Avian Flu Depopulation Environmental Assessment May 2022
Comments to Where Food Comes From on PorkCARE Standards February 2022
Comments to AVMA on its Castration and Dehorning Policy January 2022
Comments to AVMA on its Emergency Planning Policy January 2022
Letter to AVMA on Research Used to Approve Ventilation Shutdown January 2022
Letter to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board August 2021
Coalition Letter to Congress on Farm Animal Depopulation Methods October 2021
Comments to APHIS on Proposed Strategic Framework for Surveillance of Zoonotic Disease October 2021
Letter to AVMA Panel on Animal Depopulation October 2021
Comments to Massachusetts Office of Attorney General on Proposed Regulations Implementing the Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals August 2021
Comments to Where Food Comes From on BeefCARE Standards April 2021
Comments to USDA on Radio Frequency Identification of Cattle and Bison September 2020
Letter to the US Poultry & Egg Association on Barn Fires at Poultry Operations March 2020
Comments to the National Milk Producers Federation on Dairy Animal Care Standards March 2019
Comment to USDA on Branding of Cattle from Mexico Proposed Rule June 2018
Comments to USDA on High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Control October 2015
Comments to Kentucky Department of Agriculture on Proposed Regulations for Farm Animal Care September 2013
Comments to FDA on Draft Guidance for Poultry Outdoor Access September 2013
Comments to USDA on OIE Draft Animal Welfare Guidelines for Dairy Cattle May 2013
Comments to USDA on OIE Draft Animal Welfare Guidelines for Beef Cattle and Chickens December 2012
Comments to Kentucky Livestock Care Standards Commission on Proposed Standards July 2012
Comments to USDA on OIE Draft Animal Welfare Standards for Beef Cattle December 2011
Comments to EPA on CAFO Reporting Proposed Regulation December 2011
Comments to the Alaska State Veterinarian on Proposed Livestock Standards December 2011
Comments to the Alaska State Veterinarian on Proposed Avian Standards November 2011
Comments to the Kentucky Livestock Care Standards Commission on Proposed Standards October 2011
Position Statement on Antibiotic Use in Farm Animals June 2011
Comments to Indiana Board of Animal Health on Care Standards for Livestock and Poultry June 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Beef Cattle March 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Dairy Cattle February 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Sheep February 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Pigs February 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Turkeys February 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Laying Hens February 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Chickens February 2011
Position Statement Against Modified Cages for Laying Hens July 2010
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Euthanasia June 2010
Comments to USDA on Finish Feeding of Ruminants Under National Organic Program April 2010
Comments to USDA on OIE Draft Animal Welfare Guidelines for Broiler Chickens and Beef Cattle November 2009

Transport

Letter to APHIS on Deaths in International Shipments June 2023
Comments to the World Organization for Animal Health on its Transport Observatory May 2023
Second Comment to Hawaii Department of Agriculture on Proposed Transport of Animals by Sea Regulations October 2022
Comments to Hawaii Department of Agriculture on Proposed Regulations Governing the Transport of Animals by Sea May 2022
Letter to USDA Secretary on International Transport of Farm Animals August 2021
Comments to Hawaii Department of Agriculture on Transport of Animals by Sea June 2021
Comments to DOT on Hours of Service Pilot Program November 2020
Comments to DOT on Electronic Logging Devices for Livestock Transporters November 2017
Comments to USDA on Proposed Live Animal Export Regulation April 2015
Comments to USDA on Proposed Livestock Market Regulation April 2015
Comments to USDA on Proposed Animal Traceability Regulation December 2011
Comments to Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board on Nonambulatory Animals July 2010

Slaughter

Comments to USDA on Animal Partisan Petition Re State Cruelty Laws and Federal Preemption October 2023
Comments to USDA on Salmonella in NRTE Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products August 2023
Comments to USDA on Proposed FSIS Salmonella Framework December 2022
Comments to USDA on NACMCF Salmonella in Poultry Report December 2022
Letter to Congress on Poultry Good Commercial Practice Incidents March 2022
Letter to USDA on State Prosecution of Cruelty to Birds at Slaughter September 2021
Comments to USDA on Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection Proposed Rule May 2018
Comments to USDA on NCC Petition to Increase Line Speeds December 2017
Coalition Comments to USDA on NCC Petition to Increase Line Speeds September 2017
Letter to USDA on Definition of “Offered for Slaughter” for Nonambulatory Cattle May 2017
Comments to USDA on Humane Handling Violations Committed by Non-employees November 2016
Comments to USDA on Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves August 2015
Comments to USDA on Guidelines for Training Carcass Sorters in New Poultry Inspection System September 2014
Comments to USDA on Humane Slaughter Compliance Guide December 2013
Comments to USDA on Poultry Slaughter Inspection Regulation May 2012
Comments to USDA on Cooperative Interstate Meat Inspection Programs November 2009

Marketing

Comments to USDA FSIS on Updated Label Approval Guidelines November 2024
Comments to AMS on Request for Information on Access to Retail Markets April 2022
Comments to AVMA on its Food Labeling Policy January 2022
Letter to USDA Deputy Undersecretary on Impact of Deceptive Labeling on Competitive Markets September 2021
Comments to USDA on Expansion of Generic Label Approval November 2020
Comments to USDA on Free Range Claim February 2020
Comments to USDA on Meal Kit Labeling Guideline September 2019
Comments to USDA on Label Approval Process for Animal Raising Claims December 2016
Comments to FDA on Use of the "Natural" Claim May 2016
Comments to USDA on Use of the Voluntary "Natural" Claim on Meat & Poultry November 2009
Comments to USDA on Animal Raising Claims March 2003

Miscellaneous

Comments to USDA on Electronic Identification for Cattle and Bison March 2023
Coalition Comments to USDA on Proposed Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards Regulations October 2022
Comments to USDA on Recommendations for Strengthening the Food Supply Chain June 2021
Comments to USDA on Feral Swine Supplemental EA April 2021
Comments to USDA on Regulatory Framework for Genetic Engineering of Farm Animals February 2021
Comments to USDA on Origin of Organic Livestock Proposed Rule November 2019
Comment to USDA on FOIA Proposed Rule August 2018
Comments to USDA on Proposed Withdrawal of Animal Welfare Rule Under National Organic Program January 2018
Coalition Comments to USDA on Proposed Withdrawal of Animal Welfare Rule Under National Organic Program January 2018
Comments to USDA on Second Proposed Rule for Animal Welfare Under National Organic Program June 2017
Comments to USDA on Proposed Rule for Animal Welfare Under National Organic Program July 2016
Coalition comments to USDA on Proposed Rule for Animal Welfare Under National Organic Program July 2016
Comments on NFPA Fire Safety Standards for Animal Housing Facilities June 2016
Letter to National Organic Standards Board on Growth Rates in Birds April 2015
Letter to National Organic Program on Animal Welfare Standards March 2015
Comments to the USDA on OIE Draft Chapter for Working Equines December 2014
Comments on NFPA Fire Safety Standards for Animal Housing Facilities May 2014
Comments on US-EU Trade Agreement May 2013
Comments to FDA on GE Salmon April 2013
Letter to Congress on GE Salmon April 2013
Comments to USDA on Animal Welfare Standards Under National Organic Program May 2012
Comments to USDA on Animal Welfare Standards Under National Organic Program November 2011
Comments to USDA on Animal Welfare Standards Under National Organic Program April 2011
Comments to USDA on Animal Handling, Transport and Slaughter Under National Organic Program April 2011
Comments to USDA on Animal Welfare Standards Under National Organic Program October 2010