Wednesday, June 9, 2021

California sow crate ban challenged

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) is intensifying its call for the United States. Supreme Court to review California’s Proposition 12, which bans sow crates and chicken cages.

NAMI said in a brief challenging the bill that according to the state's own proposed rule, the law would offer no benefit to consumers and would increase breeding sow mortality.

NAMI's brief also said the decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold California’s "unconstitutional and costly Proposition 12" directly conflicts with legal precedent in other circuits and from the Supreme Court itself, making it the appropriate vehicle to consider the issue of a state's power beyond its territorial borders.

“The recently proposed rule by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) admits there are no benefits to Californians as a result of Prop 12. 

“CDFA admits deaths of breeding sows will increase. Both are unintentional consequences of a costly and unconstitutional law,” Julie Anna Potts, NAMI president and chief executive officer, said in a press release.

 “Our petition to challenge the law has the support of more than 20 states and we think it should be reviewed by the Supreme Court.”