US: Animal welfare law in California causes pork prices to rise

Rising prices, costs and falling consumption in California According to USDA economists, consumption has fallen as a result. The National Pig Producers Association NPPC reiterates its warnings about rising costs for producers and consumers and warns against a patchwork of regulations in the US. The implementation of Proposition 12 in California in mid-2023 regarding animal welfare made pork noticeably more expensive there. The law states that pregnant sows must have more space and cannot be kept in crates. Only meat from sows and fattened pigs from such farms can be sold in California. According to preliminary analyzes by analysts from the Office of the Chief Economist of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), consumer prices for cuts of meat such as cutlets, bacon and ribs increased by an average of 20%. The price increase was the highest in the case of pork loin and amounted to 41%. Warning against a national patchwork of regulations The U.S. National Pork Producers ...