Organic poultry products shall meet the following criteria:
- A. Birds raised for meat production shall be fed 100 percent certified organic feed from the time the animals are 2 days old;
B. Laying hens and fowl shall be acquired or raised, or both, in one of two ways:
- (1) Raised on 100 percent certified organic feed from 2-day old chicks; or
- (2) Raised from started pullets that are managed nonorganically, provided they are managed organically within an approved farm plan for 56 days immediately prior to the sale of eggs as organic;
- C. Slaughter birds may not be administered hormones, antibiotics, or synthetic parasiticides from 1 day old to slaughter; and
- D. Egg-laying fowl flocks shall be registered with the Department, as provided in COMAR 15.04.01.09.
Authority: Agriculture Article, §§6-101—6-117 and 10-1402, Annotated Code of Maryland
Effective date: February 19, 2001 (28:3 Md. R. 206)