U.S. pork producer to resume shipments to California after farm animal law delayed (updated)

Seaboard

08/02/2022 19:29

(Adds details, background)
    By Tom Polansek
    CHICAGO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Seaboard Foods, the
second-biggest U.S. pig producer, said on Tuesday 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  SEB.A  in December said it would stop selling
certain whole pork products into California because of
Proposition 12.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2T220U
    The company changed its plan after Judge James Arguelles of
California Superior Court in Sacramento County said in an order
on Feb. 2 that the state cannot enforce new requirements for
whole pork meat sales until 180 days after finalizing
regulations for Proposition 12.    
    Seaboard said it is converting some farms to comply with the
law and expects to have pork for sale to California this year
that complies with Proposition 12.
    The company's farm operations are located in Oklahoma,
Kansas, Texas, Colorado and Iowa, according to its website. 
    California represents about 15% of the U.S. pork market, and
about 87% of pork sold in California comes from pigs raised
outside the state, industry officials said.

 (Reporting by Tom Polansek;
Editing by Chris Reese and Aurora Ellis)
 ((Thomas.Polansek@thomsonreuters.com; https://twitter.com/tpolansek))