Mongolia’s parliamentary committee on environment, food, and agriculture held a hearing to assess the implementation of the Law on Herders, enacted in June 2024. The hearing included reports from government officials and direct feedback from herder representatives regarding challenges faced two years after the law’s passage. A key issue is the slow rollout of implementing regulations – only two of eleven required regulations have been approved, causing disputes, particularly regarding social insurance compensation. Herders expressed frustration that while mining is credited with supporting the Mongolian economy, their needs are overlooked, citing negative impacts on land, water, and pasture. Concerns were also raised about the lack of support for small and medium-sized herder businesses, difficulties in accessing local markets due to tendering requirements, and the need for policies to support young people remaining in rural areas. They stated cooperative movements are not realistically viable and called for direct support for their products.