Pork producers across the country now have until the end of the year to bring their facilities up to standard if they want to sell their product in California.
The state agreed to push the deadline for compliance for Proposition 12 to December 31. The enforcement was expected to start in a matter of weeks, July 1.
The National Pork Producers Council, which was one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that went before the U.S. Supreme court, was appreciative of California’s efforts.
“It is welcome news to America’s pig farmers and consumers that California recognized the challenging situation the July 1 Proposition 12 implementation date will have on our industry and food supply,” said NPPC CEO Bryan Humphrey in a statement. “Granting six months of additional relief for products in the supply chain allows grocery stores to remain stocked so the 40 million Californians have uninterrupted access to affordable, safe and nutritious pork products, especially with rising food prices.
“We appreciate Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture for their efforts over the past month to find a solution to achieve a smoother transition for the entire pork value chain, including our foreign trading partners.
“While this temporary solution does not solve the challenges and uncertainty California Proposition 12 brings to our industry, NPPC looks forward to working with Congress to find a permanent solution to this problem.”
