Tag Archives: ANIMAL WELFARE

California’s Proposition 12 Challenged on Constitutional Grounds

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As our readers may know, in November 2018, California voters passed a ballot initiative known as Proposition 12, which establishes new standards for confinement of certain farm animals and bans the sale of products that do not comply with the new confinement standards. Specifically, Proposition 12 requires that all eggs sold in the state come … Continue Reading

What to Know about California’s New Proposition 12 Requirements on Farm Animal Confinement

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During the November 2018 election, California voters passed a ballot initiative known as Proposition 12, which establishes new standards for confinement of certain farm animals and bans the sale of products that do not comply with the new confinement standards.  The ballot initiative amended an existing California Health and Safety Code section, Chapter 13.9 (“Farm Animal Cruelty”).  … Continue Reading

Food Policy Summary

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In the last week there have been a number of interesting developments in food policy.  Each is in early development, but worthy of a brief note. President Trump, in a meeting regarding Chinese tariffs with Republican lawmakers from agricultural states, indicated a willingness to reconsider participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), perhaps as a means … Continue Reading

USDA Withdraws Organic Livestock and Poultry Practice (OLPP) Final Rule

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As previously reported on this blog, USDA published the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule on January 19, 2017. The rule established minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements for chickens based on the type of production and stage of life, as well as added new provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter. … Continue Reading

USDA Announces Intention to Withdraw Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Final Rule

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As previously covered on this blog, on January 19, 2017, USDA published a controversial final rule on organic livestock and poultry which establishes minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements for chickens as a function of type of production and stage of life, as well as adds new provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter. 82 FR 7042.  The effective date for … Continue Reading

USDA Further Delays Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule

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As previously covered on this blog, on January 19, 2017, USDA published a controversial final rule on organic livestock and poultry which establishes minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements for chickens as a function of type of production and stage of life, as well as adds new provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter. 82 FR 7042.  The effective date for … Continue Reading

CA Court Upholds Foie Gras Ban

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Foie gras is a culinary delicacy made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose.  It can be produced through a process called gavage in which the birds are force-fed through tubes inserted into their esophagus.  Foie gras sales derived from this method were prohibited in California following the passage of a bill in … Continue Reading

USDA Rolls Out New Animal Welfare Compliance Database

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USDA Animal Care is a component of the Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Animal Care works with states, regulated industries, animal advocacy groups and other non-governmental organizations to support the welfare of millions of animals across the U.S. In July 2016, APHIS formally initiated a comprehensive review and update of Animal Care’s … Continue Reading

USDA Further Delays Effective Date for Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule

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As previously covered on this blog, on January 19, 2017, USDA published a controversial final rule on organic livestock and poultry which establishes minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements for chickens as a function of type of production and stage of life, as well as adds new provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter. 82 FR 7042.  The effective date for … Continue Reading

Animal Welfare Institute Calls for Greater Humane Slaughter Enforcement in New Report

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Animal welfare – and, in particular, humane slaughter – have become hot-button issues in the food industry in response to consumer demand for ethically-raised foods.  The key federal agency charged with humane slaughter oversight is USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. With respect to livestock, USDA administers the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act (7 USC, … Continue Reading

USDA Delays Final Rule on Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices

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As previously covered on this blog, on January 19, 2017, USDA published a controversial final rule on organic livestock and poultry which establishes minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements for chickens as a function of type of production and stage of life. 82 FR 7042. On February 9, 2017, USDA published a Notice in the Federal Register delaying the … Continue Reading

USDA Sets Tougher Animal-Welfare Standards for Organic Farming in Recently Published Final Rule

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As consumers increasingly demand ethically-minded foods such as “Cage Free” and “Pasture Raised”, animal welfare has become a hot-button issue in the food industry.  Coupled with a heightened focus from animal welfare advocacy groups on animal raising conditions, several states have been considering imposing minimum size requirements for farm animal containment.  And this past November, … Continue Reading

USDA Unveils New Program to Assess Animal Welfare Standards

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As consumers increasingly demand ethically-minded foods such as “Cage Free” and “Pasture Raised”, animal welfare has become a hot-button issue in the food industry. To assist industry with verifying animal welfare standards, on December 27, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced a program called “USDA ISO TS 34700 Animal Welfare Assessment” under which … Continue Reading

MA Could Become First State to Regulate Containment Conditions for Food Animals

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Massachusetts will vote on a ballot initiative that would ban certain means of confining farm animals in the state. Consumers are increasingly demanding ethically-minded foods such as “Cage Free” and “Pasture Raised”.  Coupled with a heightened focus from animal welfare advocacy groups on animal raising conditions, it should come as no surprise that, earlier this summer, … Continue Reading
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