United States: California's struggle for eggs and bacon from caged animals, understand issues of the moment

In 2018, California passed Proposition 12, a law that provides some of the most stringent regulations for farm animal living conditions in the United States and potentially globally. Set to fully implement on January 1, 2022, the law aims to ban harsh housing practices for pigs and laying hens, such as gestation cages for pigs and battery cages for hens, affecting around one million pigs and 40 million laying hens annually. This legislation has drawn significant attention and controversy, with the meat industry challenging the law on protectionism grounds, arguing it discriminates against out-of-state producers. Despite these challenges, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the law, marking a significant victory for animal welfare advocates. This decision not only allows Proposition 12 to proceed but also sets a precedent for similar legislation in other states, signaling a potential shift towards improved living conditions for farm animals, albeit within the constraints of industrial agriculture.