The United States Department of Justice has filed a legal challenge in federal court against California’s Proposition 12 standards for laying hen housing.
The lawsuit said the federal government has sole jurisdiction over eggs and that California’s law on housing and egg labeling conflict with the federal Egg Products Inspection Act.
Pork producers in the United States and Canada will be watching this court case closely because they face loss of markets for hogs that do not meet the California standards.
Industry groups, including the National Pork Producers Council, have voiced support for the lawsuit and has expressed concern over the economic ripple effects of differing state-by-state standards affecting pork and other proteins, in addition to eggs.
Although the focus of this lawsuit is eggs, a favorable ruling for the DOJ could open the door to similar challenges against state-level regulations for pork and veal. Conversely, a decision against the DOJ may affirm the authority of states to impose animal care standards on out-of-state producers.
