The United Egg Producers Board of Directors and the Humane Society of the United States reached an agreement on Wednesday to petition the government for federal legislation to transition the industry from a conventional cage egg production business to enriched colony cage housing. Their goal is to have the law in place by June 30, 2012 and the transition fully implemented by December 31, 2029. National Pork Producers Council President Doug Wolf says the pork industry is committed to animal well-being - but legislation pre-empting state laws on egg production would set a dangerous precedent.
Wolf says NPPC is concerned a one-size-fits-all approach will take away producers’ freedom to operate in a way that’s best for their animals, make it difficult to respond to consumer demands, raise retail meat prices, devastate niche producers and redirect valuable resources from enhancing food safety to regulating production practices for reasons other than public health and welfare.
NPPC also is concerned about the uncertainty such legislation would generate among U.S. pork producers. Wolf says the pork industry has adopted programs that educate and certify producers in best practices under NPPC’s We Care principles. He says pork producers have practiced these principles for decades because it’s the right thing to do. |