Challenging Egg Production Standards

In 2008 California passed its Proposition 2, which requires larger cages for egg laying hens. Two years later, thanks to the “Governator" at the time, that state’s legislature passed a law requiring that all eggs coming into California from other states must meet the same cage standards. Last month Missouri’s Attorney General joined the Attorneys General of Alabama, Kentucky and Oklahoma, in filing suit in U.S. District Court in Fresno challenging California’s cage size standards. Now Nebraska and Iowa can be added to the growing list of states following the same suit. They argue that the requirement violates the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution and could easily set a precedent for other states to restrict agricultural products. Of course the HSUS has been quick to express their disappointment and displeasure at this turn of events, since they championed California’s ballot initiative in the first place. In the end, no one will really win. More than likely, millions will be spent in court costs, California eggs will be so expensive to produce that farmers there will go out of business, and free trade will prevail. All thanks to the efforts of the HSUS.