On January 1st, 2024 California’s Proposition 12 went into full effect, where certain farm owners, operators and distributors who raise veal calves, commercial breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens need to allow for specific freedom of movement for the animals, cage-free designs, and specified floor space.  These regulations prohibit farm owners and distributors from knowingly cruelly confining these sentient beings and apply to both in-state entities and out-of-state entities that intend to sell goods in the state of California.

In response to California's Proposition 12, 15 states have enacted laws addressing the cruel intensive confinement of farm animals and the associated public health risks. Furthermore, more than 40% of pork producers have expressed their willingness to meet the demand for crate-free pork production. Additionally, 80% of American voters support similar measures in their own states.

However, some members of Congress aligned with certain entities of the pork industry are seeking to “fix” Proposition 12 and nullify these regulations for farm animals.

If you wish to support farm animal protection laws, you can contact your federal representative and express your opposition to the proposed changes to Proposition 12. The call will take two minutes of your time and your voice makes a difference for farm animals that do not have one. You can find your federal representative at www.pluralpolicy.com.

Images courtesy of Civil Eats and Crate Free USA