The National Chicken Council (NCC) and several other agricultural groups have filed lawsuits concerning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new regulation on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Environmental advocacy groups have also filed lawsuits. The NCC lawsuit was filed for the purpose of securing the industry’s legal rights in what is expected to be multi-faceted, multi-party litigation concerning the regulation. Only by filing suit can the industry be assured of participating in what could be far-reaching court decisions. The NCC petition was filed in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
As far as the broiler chicken industry is concerned, environmental protection is already well established. The National Chicken Council adopted a voluntary program in 1998, which has been strongly supported by NCC member companies. According to our survey covering the year 2001 (the most recent annual survey conducted), more than three-quarters of the nation ’s chicken farmers have either implemented nutrient management plans or are in the process of developing them, well ahead of the schedule set in the plan.
The National Chicken Council represents integrated chicken producer-processors, the companies that produce, process and market chickens. Member companies of NCC account for approximately 95 percent of the chicken sold in the United States.
