February 10, 2022

Seaboard Foods resumes fresh pork shipments after new livestock law delayed

Second biggest producer of swine in the US, Seaboard Foods, has resumed pork shipments to the state of California after a state court delayed the enforcement of a new law regulating humane treatment of livestock, Reuters reported.

The new California law, Proposition 12, was aimed at making food production more humane establishing minimum space requirements for raising swine, egg-laying hens, and calves for veal.

The measure, which took effect from January 1, 2020, also prohibits the sale of pork, eggs, and raw veal from livestock raised in too little space.

Those opposing the law said enforcement will raise costs for pork producers and consumers, as well as violate the US Constitution's Commerce Clause as it requires meatpackers based out of state to comply or face the sales ban.

In December, Seaboard Foods said it will stop selling a select number of its pork products to California because of the law. Seaboard changed its plan after a state court ordered on February 2, 2022, that the state cannot enforce Proposition 12 until 180 days after finalising regulations for the new law.

Seaboard Foods said it is currently converting some of its farms to comply with Proposition 12.

Industry officials said California state represents 15% of the country's pork market, with 87% of pork sold in California come from other states.

-      Reuters