The Trump administration on Wednesday sued California and Gav Gavin Newsom on the state’s anti-animal cruelty laws, stating that they are contributing to the high cost of egg prices and are superstitious by a federal law regulating egg quality, inspection and packaging.
In its ComplaintThe Department of Justice is trying to block the laws of the state, which requires additional space for chickens growing chicken, arguing that they do not carry forward “unnecessary red tape” and “consumer welfare.”
The Department of Justice wrote in its civil complaint, “California has prevented farmers from using several agricultural production methods across the country, which were in widespread use and which helped to keep the eggs cheaper.”
Two California ballot initiatives passed in 2008 and 2018, meet the hen sold in the state and high standards and housing requirements for eggs, which should give birds enough space to increase their organs and move without touching another bird.
The 2018 ballot initiative also jars the henes by being kept in any “attachment” and mandates. space requirements Breeding for pigs and calves was picked up for wheel.
The laws, the Trump administration, alleged, was predetermined by the dominated section of the Constitution and Egg Produce Inspection Act, which was passed in 1970. Trump administration also quotes data The earlier major restrictions were shown in the years after the major restrictions, egg production in the state decreased and egg prices increased by 20%.
California’s requirements, the Department of Justice, says, “Was operated by the concept of workers that qualify as ‘cruel’ animal housing, not by consumer purchasing decisions or scientifically based food security or animal welfare standards.”
Supporters of California laws, such as United States Human SocietyThey argue that they protect farm animals from being closed in cruel and extreme imprisonment. ” In many cases, there are eggs Limited to small cages,
The Human Society said in 2023, “Closing farm animals in small cages is not only inhuman and cruel, it increases the risk of food security hazards such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the risk of another epidemic also increases.”
One in Post on XNewsom’s press office wrote that President Trump is “back to his favorite hobby: to blame California literally for everything. Next: Gavin Newsom caused the fall of Rome and sent to asteroid that erased the dinosaur!”
Attorney General Palm Bandy said in a statement, “Americans across the country have faced the results of liberal policies, which cause mass inflation for everyday objects such as eggs.” “Under the leadership of President Trump, we will use the entire limit of the federal law to ensure that the American families are free from repressive regulator burden and restore American prosperity.”
The Trump administration is not the first time the state egg laws have been challenged in the court.
In both 2016 and 2017, Republican state attorney generally failed Lawsed on To block a provision in which chickens need to have additional space in their housing units. Supreme court rejected To listen to the case in 2019. Two years ago, High Court Also rejected A challenge for the state’s 2018 animal imprisonment law brought by Pork producers.
Wednesday’s suit is the latest legal step of the Trump administration against Newsom, which is a constant critic of the President. It also comes about spikes in egg prices earlier this year.
Egg prices were nationwide an average of $ 4.55 per dozen in May this year. CBS News’ Price TrackerUS agriculture department Indicates After the fall in prices in the end of 2024, wholesale egg prices are slightly higher than this time than last year.
According to USDA Egg market data Published earlier this month, the California-complaint wholesale egg prices rose by 15 cents a week from June 20 and 27 June, and were above 80 cents from May 30.
The complaint does not mention bird flu epidemic that has destroyed the egg industry and has increased the prices of eggs to record high in March, when the average price of grade A egg in American cities has reached $ 6.23 per dozen, Federal data,
