In May, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold California’s Proposition 12, a law that bans the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet certain production standards. Originally approved by the state’s voters in 2018, the law calls for minimum space requirements based on square feet for breeding pigs—as well as veal calves and egg-laying hens—and prohibits the sale of meat and eggs from those animals when they are raised in a way that does not comply with the minimum requirements.
Prop 12 was originally due to go into effect on July 1, 2023; however, in June, Superior Court Judge James Arguelles modified his original order, granting temporary relief for noncompliant whole pork meat until December 31 of this year.
The National Pork Producers Council (NNPC) notes that this is not a delay of all of Proposition 12, but instead an adjustment related to the sale of whole pork meat. “This is an extension of time for the sale of non-compliant whole pork meat, provided that the meat is in the supply chain by July 1,” an NNPC spokesperson tells FQ&S. “If it is in the supply chain by July 1, that product can be sold in California until Dec. 31. Anything harvested after July 1, to be sold in California, will still have to be Proposition 12 compliant.”
The reasoning for the adjustment had to do with economics. The state realized that if the change did not occur, consumers would most likely face increased food prices and a significant decrease in the amount of pork supplied to California.
“It is welcome news to America’s pig farmers and consumers that California recognized the challenging situation the July 1 Proposition 12 implementation date will have on our industry and food supply,” Bryan Humphreys, NNPC’s CEO, said in a statement.
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