The bill, A.B. 1437 requires that "all whole eggs sold in California as of Jan. 1, 2015, come from hens able to stand up, fully extend their limbs, lie down, and spread their wings without touching the sides of their enclosure" according to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) press release. The bill passed in the Assembly by a vote of 65-9 and passed in the Senate 23-7.
Since the law applies to eggs imported in to California, it could potentially affect requirements for living conditions for egg laying hens across the nation, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The passage of proposition raised concerns for California operations because it could put growers within the state at a competitive disadvantage. This law, however, relieves some of these concerns.
David Sumner, a professor of agricultural economics at UC Davis and director of the UC Agriculture Issues Center, co-wrote a report in 2008 predicting damage to the egg industry in the state. He now says that "extending the rules to imported eggs changes the predictions of damage to the state 100 percent." Sumner predicts that egg prices "across the board" will increase "by about 2 cents per egg."
For the text of A.B. 1437, click here.
To read the HSUS press release, click here.
To read the San Francisco Chronicle story, click here.
Posted: 07/09/2010
