Proposition 12
In 2018, California voters passed Proposition 12, Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, self-titled as the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act (Act). The purpose of the Act is to prevent animal cruelty by phasing out certain methods of farm animal confinement for covered animals raised in the State and the products harvested from those animals if sold within the State for human consumption.
The Act mandates farm animal confinement standards and compliance timeframes, establishes definitions affecting the production and sale of shell eggs, liquid eggs, whole veal meat, and whole pork meat in the State, and directs the Department of Food and Agriculture (Department) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to jointly promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the HSC relating to the confinement of specified farm animals and the sale of specified products derived from them. Specifically, this initiative establishes a program of registration, certification, conveyance inspection, and labeling and marking requirements for the sale of shell eggs, liquid eggs, whole veal meat, and whole pork meat in the State.
Ultimately, this initiative prohibits the sale of shell eggs, liquid eggs, whole veal meat, and whole pork meat derived from cruelly confined animals. As of January 1, 2022 these products can come only from producers which meet specified animal housing standards.
For the specific regulations, please visit the CDFA website: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/pdfs/regulations/AnimalConfinementText1stNotice_05252021.pdf
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