The U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday filed a suit in Los Angeles against California, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials over laws the Trump administration alleges impose burdensome red tape on the production of eggs and poultry products nationally in violation of federal law.
The DOJ contends laws and regulations challenged by the complaint impose requirements on farmers that have the effect of raising egg prices for American consumers by prohibiting farmers across the nation from using commonly accepted agricultural methods that helped keep eggs affordable.
Regulations on farm animal confinement were passed by voters in 2018 with 62%. Proposition 12 created new minimum requirements on farmers to provide more space for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs, and calves raised for veal, expanding on a 2008 voter-passed law that prohibited their confinement.
The federal government contends California's requirements stand opposed to the Egg Products Inspection Act, which sets standards to ensure eggs and egg products are properly labeled and packaged and preempts state laws that impose additional regulatory hurdles, according to the complaint.
"It is the prerogative of the federal government alone to regulate the quality, inspection, and packaging of eggs," the lawsuit reads.
The California Attorney General's Office responded with the following:
"Pointing fingers won’t change the fact that it is the President’s economic policies that have been destructive. We’ll see him in court."
