Reuters – Seaboard Foods, the second-biggest U.S. pig producer, said on February 8 it is preparing to resume shipments of fresh pork to California customers after a state court delayed enforcement of a new law aimed at ensuring more humane treatment of farm animals.
Supporters of the California law concerning farm animal confinement, or Proposition 12, say it will make food production more humane by setting minimum space requirements for breeding pigs, egg-laying hens and calves raised for veal.
The measure, which took effect on Jan. 1, also forbids the sale of pork, eggs or raw veal from animals enclosed in too little space.
Opponents in the U.S. meat industry have argued that enforcement would increase costs for pork producers and consumers, and violate the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause by requiring out-of-state producers to comply or face the sales ban.
Seaboard in December said it would stop selling certain whole pork products into California because of Proposition 12.
