California Passes Animal Welfare Initiative

California voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved Proposition 12, a far-reaching animal welfare initiative that will impact egg farmers and livestock operations across the U.S.The initiative requires all eggs sold in the state come from cage-free hens by 2022 and sets strict space requirements for pork and veal producers.Producers who want to sell into California – the world's 5th largest economy – will have to follow the Proposition 12 standards.The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) drafted Proposition 12 to fix flaws with a similar animal welfare initiative – Proposition 2 – that was approved by California voters a decade ago. The 2008 measure, also backed by HSUS, banned the confinement of egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and veal calves in spaces too small to permit the animals to lie down, turn around or stand up and extend their limbs.But Proposition 2 did not set specific space requirements and proponents say it has fallen short of the underlying goal to eliminate battery cages for hens and ensure livestock are afforded ample living space.Proposition 12 seeks to remedy that, amending state rules to raise space requirements for laying hens from 116 square inches per bird to 144 square inches by 2020. By 2022, all laying hens must be kept in outdoor or indoor cage-free housing systems.The veal industry will have to comply with new rules by 2020 that call for each calf to be granted at least 43 square feet of space. By 2022, pork producers will be required to provide each breeding pig with 24 square feet of space.National egg, pork and veal producers opposed Proposition 12, arguing the rules are unnecessary and will increase prices for farmers and consumers. Critics contend the requirements are likely a violation of the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.Some animal welfare groups, such as Friends of Animals, PETA and the Humane Farming Association, also voiced opposition, arguing the measure doesn't go far enough and simply codifies industry standards that they find inadequate.California voters backed the measure in droves and it passed with 61% of the vote.