The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) lost an appeal of a district court ruling requesting a preliminary injunction against California’s Proposition 12.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the proposition that establishes meat production standards that apply to producers outside of the state.
Proposition 12 states producers of veal calves must house animals with at least 43 square feet of usable floor space per calf. Beginning in 2022, sows will need a minimum of 24 square feet of usable space per animal and laying hens must be cage-free or able to stand and stretch their wings. Livestock and eggs produced without using these standards cannot be sold in California.
“We are disappointed in the ruling and are reviewing our options,” NAMI said to Meat + Poultry. “California should not be able to dictate farming practices across the nation.”
