There will be chaos in the North American meat market if the federal government fails to intervene on California's Prop 12 animal welfare law, U.S.. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a Congressional hearing Wednesday.
California’s voters approved the standards on housing space for animals in 2018 and the United States Supreme Court declined last year to throw it out.
The pork industry has said the law burdens pork producers and would not improve animal welfare. It has called on Congress to repeal Prop 12 through federal action.
"If we don’t take this issue seriously, we’re going to have chaos in the marketplace," Vilsack said.
"When each state has the ability to define for itself and its consumers exactly what farming techniques or practices are appropriate, it does create the possibility of 50 different sets of rules and regulations," he said.
Prop 12 was fully implemented as of Jan. 1, 2024.
It has an impact on Canadian hog and pork producers because any buyer who wants to market into California must demonstrate compliance with Prop. 12 standards.
