October 6, 2014

1 Min Read
California Egg Law Could Have Far-Reaching Implications

The Des Moines Register brings perspective to a federal judge’s actions last week when a multi-state case against the California egg law was thrown out, possibly resulting in implications for beef, pork and other commodities being blocked from sale in specific states in the future.  Six states had asked the court to strike down a California statute barring the sale of eggs there that were produced by hens in cages that did not meet a standard size of at least 116 square inches of space per chicken.

The Des Moines Register reports:

"Obviously, I'm disappointed and think it is unfortunate that this court failed to address what I believe is an effort to unconstitutionally limit the ability of Iowa farmers to access California's consumers," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. "Evaluation of additional legal options to address this situation needs to be done."

Iowa had joined Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma in pursuing the lawsuit earlier this year, claiming the California law violated the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller dismissed the suit, saying the states did not prove California's law would hurt their citizens, only some egg producers.

Read the story at the Des Moines Register website here. 

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