Senators push for federal regs to neutralize California's farm animal standards
Grassley: federal government would take its role as regulator with Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression Act
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY, IA -- Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa are among co-sponsors of legislation that would prevent states from regulating animal agriculture nationwide.
Sen. Fischer said California’s Proposition 12 contains “radical animal rights standards” and Sen. Grassley is hoping to corral support from agriculture states to neutralize it.
Sen. Grassley said the Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression Act is in response to a court decision that says the federal government has the authority to regulate animal agriculture but has not done so.
Grassley: “The court reasoned this way: that Congress has the power under the Constitution to control and regulate interstate and foreign commerce, but Congress hasn’t legislated in this area.”
The proposition includes freedom of movement standards for veal calves, egg-laying hens and breeding pigs.
Opponents say regulating how much space an animal must have would raise costs for the consumer. Sen. Grassley said the cost of Proposition 12 would be about $3,500 per sow.
Grassley: “California Proposition 12 says that you can’t market pork in California unless the sow farrowing equates at least 24 square feet, where normally they are smaller than that for most producers, so 15 percent of the pork is eaten in California and we wouldn’t be able to market there, so you can see what a significant impact that would have.”
He said the federal government would take its proper role as regulator with EATS, but he expects work ahead to gain bipartisan support.
Grassley: “The animal rights people, who don’t want animal agriculture, and PETA organizations, have a lot of power within the Democratic caucus.”
California Department of Education final rule on Proposition 12
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/fd/mb-fdp-03-2022-a.asp
