December 21, 2020

US meat organisation's challenge of California's Prop 12 gets support of US government

The North American Meat Institute's (Meat Institute) lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the US state of California's Proposition 12 (Prop 12) received key support from the US federal government and 20 states with the filing of two amicus briefs.

"The support from the United States government and 20 states underscores the significance of our case against Prop 12," said Meat Institute president and CEO, Julie Anna Potts. "Prop 12 is unconstitutional and not only hurts consumers with higher prices for pork, veal and eggs, it is costly for the federal government's programmes designed to help those facing hunger, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. At a time when so many are turning to this critical assistance during the pandemic, Prop 12 hurts those most in need."

The US Department of Justice has filed an amicus brief in support of the Meat Institute's petition for rehearing en banc in the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

In addition, US states Indiana, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming filed a separate amicus brief in support of the Meat Institute's petition.

According to California's own economic analysis, consumer prices are likely to increase as producers will have to spend to expand or construct new animal housing which may cost more to operate in the long term. The state acknowledges it may take several years for farmers to comply with Proposition 12 resulting in a shortfall of products and increased prices for consumers.

- NAMI