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2018 California Proposition 12

{{Short description|Ballot measure on space requirements for farm animals}}

{{redirect|Proposition 12|the 2008 California proposition about veterans' bonds|2008 California Proposition 12|the 2007 Texas constitutional amendment about highway funding|2007 Texas constitutional amendment election}}

{{use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}

{{Infobox referendum

| name = Proposition 12

| title = Farm Animal Minimum Space

| country = California

| yes = 7516095

| no = 4481267

| total = 11997362

| electorate = 19696371

| map = CA-06112018-ballot-12-counties.svg

| mapdivision =

| mapcaption =

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For

{{legend|#47729E|70%–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#7D9CBB|60%–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#B6C8D9|50%–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

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Against

{{legend|#8B8B54|70%–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#BCBC83|60%–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#DEDEBD|50%–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

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| notes = Source: California Secretary of State{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008-general/sov_complete.pdf |title=Statement of Vote: 2008 General Election |publisher=California Secretary of State |date=December 13, 2008 |access-date=June 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506165548/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008-general/sov_complete.pdf |archive-date=May 6, 2013 }}

}}

{{ElectionsCA}}

Proposition 12 ("Prop 12") was a California ballot proposition in that state's general election on November 6, 2018. The measure was self-titled the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act.{{cite web|url=https://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2018/general/pdf/topl.pdf#prop12|website=vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov|title=vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2018/general/pdf/topl.pdf#prop12|access-date=2018-11-06}} The measure passed, by a vote of about 63% Yes to 37% No.{{Cite web|url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018-election-results-propositions-and-amendments/|title=Propositions & Ballot Measures: 2018 California Midterm Election Results|website=sacramento.cbslocal.com}}

The proposition establishes new minimum requirements on farmers to provide more space for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs, and calves raised for veal. California businesses will be banned from selling eggs or uncooked pork or veal that came from animals housed in ways that did not meet these requirements.{{cite web|url=http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/12/|title=Proposition 12 | Official Voter Information Guide | California Secretary of State|website=voterguide.sos.ca.gov|access-date=2018-11-06}}

The ballot measure aimed to build upon and strengthen the requirements of a previous ballot measure, the 2008 California Proposition 2, which prohibited battery cages and gestation crates for animals in California, and required that pigs, hens, and calves be able to spread their wings or limbs and turn around. The California legislature in 2010 passed AB 1437, which required all shell eggs sold in the state to meet the same requirements, including those produced elsewhere. Proposition 12 closed loopholes in these laws by requiring the same for all eggs sold in the state, regardless of the form it was sold in (i.e. both shell eggs and liquid eggs), and the state where it was produced.{{Cite web|last=Torrella|first=Kenny|date=2021-08-10|title=The fight over cage-free eggs and bacon in California, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22576044/prop-12-california-eggs-pork-bacon-veal-animal-welfare-law-gestation-crates-battery-cages|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Vox|language=en}} However, not all pork has to comply with the law: only whole uncooked pork cuts must comply, while other pork products, such as ground pork, do not. This means that about 42% of the state's pork market is exempt from the law's requirements. {{Cite web |last=Marceau |first=Justin |date=2023-05-12 |title=The Supreme Court’s ruling on Prop 12 is a win against factory farming. But the pigs’ lives will still suck. |url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23721488/prop-12-scotus-pork-pigs-factory-farming-california-bacon |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Vox |language=en}}

Ballot label summary

The California Secretary of State's summary from the Official Voter Information Guide of Proposition 12 is as follows:

{{blockquote|ESTABLISHES NEW STANDARDS FOR CONFINEMENT OF SPECIFIED FARM ANIMALS; BANS SALE OF NONCOMPLYING PRODUCTS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Establishes minimum requirements for confining certain farm animals. Prohibits sales of meat and egg products from animals confined in noncomplying manner. Fiscal Impact: Potential decrease in state income tax revenues from farm businesses, likely not more than several million dollars annually. State costs up to $10 million annually to enforce the measure.}}

Support

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal protection groups argued that confining animals in small cages is cruel, and that Prop 12 was needed to improve animal welfare, including by mandating cage-free conditions for egg-laying hens.Yes on Prop 12: Prevent Cruelty California, "Campaign Overview." https://preventcrueltyca.com/campaign-overview {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525035546/https://preventcrueltyca.com/campaign-overview |date=May 25, 2022 }}. Retrieved 2019-01-04 Prop 12 applies equally to both animals raised in California and those raised elsewhere for the California marketplace. Prop 12 was endorsed by the Center for Food Safety because research indicates that caging farm animals increases the spread of food-borne pathogens like Salmonella.

The following organizations endorsed Proposition 12:

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The following newspapers endorsed it:

Opposition

The American Veal Association argued that Prop 12 would create unnecessary regulations and that the veal industry was already well on its way to phasing out crates.{{cite web | url=http://www.americanveal.com/ava-policies/2018/10/18/american-veal-association-statement-on-california-proposition-12 | title=American Veal Association Statement on California Proposition 12 }} Ken Klippen of the National Association of Egg Farmers told Fox News that the measure would take away consumer choice and that the motivation behind the measure was to push consumers towards a vegan diet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eggfarmers.org/item/fox-news-shows-debate-on-california-ballot-initiative-for-cage-free-chickens|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204125242/http://www.eggfarmers.org/item/fox-news-shows-debate-on-california-ballot-initiative-for-cage-free-chickens|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 4, 2019|title=FOX News Shows Debate on California Ballot Initiative for Cage-Free Chickens - National Association of Egg Farmers|website=www.eggfarmers.org}}

Groups such as PETA opposed the measure because they considered it insufficient.

The following organizations opposed Proposition 12:

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  • Association of California Egg Farmers{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/10/29/660605016/california-voters-may-force-meat-and-egg-producers-across-the-country-to-go-cage|website=npr.org|title=NPR Choice page|access-date=2018-11-06}}
  • National Association of Egg Farmers{{cite web|url=http://www.capradio.org/articles/2018/10/31/with-proposition-12-california-voters-face-choices-on-farm-animal-confinement/|title=With Proposition 12, California Voters Face Choices On Farm Animal Confinement|website=capradio.org|access-date=2018-11-06}}
  • American Veal Association{{cite web|url=http://www.americanveal.com/ava-policies/2018/10/18/american-veal-association-statement-on-california-proposition-12|website=americanveal.com|title=American Veal Association Statement on California Proposition 12 — American Veal Association|access-date=2018-11-06}}
  • California Pork Producers Association{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenstatenewspapers.com/tracy_press/news/dialysis-daylight-saving-ambulance-farm-animal-confinement-propositions-detailed/article_b13b5f24-dd6d-11e8-9c1e-c3fa457e5630.html|website=goldenstatenewspapers.com|title=tracy_press/news/dialysis-daylight-saving-ambulance-farm-animal-confinement-propositions-detailed/article_b13b5f24-dd6d-11e8-9c1e-c3fa457e5630|access-date=2018-11-06}}
  • People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA){{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/nothings-good-enough-for-peta-including-prop-12/|title=Nothing's Good Enough for PETA, Including Prop 12 - October 31, 2018|website=SF Weekly|date=November 2018 |access-date=2018-11-06}}
  • National Pork Producers Council
  • California Farm Bureau Federation{{cite web|url=https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/15886-california-farm-bureau-federation-announces-positions-on-november-2018-ballot-measures-yes-on-proposition-6-fuel-tax-repeal|website=goldrushcam.com|title=goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/15886-california-farm-bureau-federation-announces-positions-on-november-2018-ballot-measures-yes-on-proposition-6-fuel-tax-repeal|access-date=2018-11-06}}
  • Protect the Harvest
  • Humane Farming Association
  • Friends of Animals
  • Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK)
  • Action for Animals

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The following newspapers opposed it:

Election results

The results of the vote were 62.65% YES to 37.35% NO.

{{Referendum

| title = Proposition 12

| yes = 7,516,095

| yespct = 62.65

| no = 4,481,267

| nopct = 37.35

| valid = 11,997,362

| validpct = 100

| invalid =

| invalidpct =

| total = 11,997,362

| turnoutpct = 19,696,371

}}

Effects and legal challenges

The egg industry has largely complied with the law.{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Leah |date=2022-03-01 |title=California's Strict New Law Preventing Cruelty to Farm Animals Triggers Protests From Big U.S. Meat Producers |url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01032022/california-proposittion-12-cruelty-farm-animals/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Inside Climate News |language=en-US}} Despite the resounding success at the ballot box, the pork industry unsuccessfully sued to block implementation of the law.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-13|title=Will new bacon law begin? California grocers seek delay|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2021/12/13/will-new-bacon-law-begin-california-grocers-seek-delay|access-date=2021-12-14|website=KPBS Public Media|language=en}} In June 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected a lawsuit from the North American Meat Institute to stop the law.{{Cite web|date=21 Jul 2021|title=CALIFORNIA LAW BANNING CAGES HOLDS STRONG|url=https://thehumaneleague.org/article/california-law-banning-cages-holds-strong|access-date=2022-02-23|website=thehumaneleague.org}} The Meat Institute had argued that Prop 12 violated the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution, but this argument was rejected because Prop 12 holds in-state and out-of-state producers to the same standard. The law was implemented on January 1, 2022.{{Cite web|title=Proposition 12 takes effect in California|url=https://www.ciwf.com/news/2022/01/proposition-12-takes-effect-in-california|access-date=2022-01-12|website=www.ciwf.com|language=en}}

On January 25, 2022, a judge ordered a temporary halt to enforcement of the prohibition on pork from gestation crates, for 180 days, pending development of final regulations by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, to give producers more time to comply.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-25|title=California judge rules Prop 12 enforcement should be temporarily halted on whole pork sales|url=https://www.agriculture.com/news/livestock/california-judge-rules-prop-12-enforcement-should-be-halted-on-whole-pork-sales|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Successful Farming|language=en}} The CDFA also needed more time to comply with a lawsuit filed by animal activists, who wanted to increase stringency of the regulations.{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=Dan |date=2021-12-08 |title=More litigation goes ahead of California's feared bacon crisis |url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/?p=209962 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Food Safety News |language=en-US}}

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Pork Producers Council again asked the Supreme Court to overturn the law, in another lawsuit similar to the ones that were previously rejected. On May 11, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the law, in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross.{{Cite web |last=Nair |first=Devatha P. |date=2023-05-11 |title=Supreme Court Upholds Prop 12 |url=https://sentientmedia.org/supreme-court-upholds-prop-12/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |language=en-US}}

As of 2024, House Republicans are attempting to overrule Proposition 12 through the United States farm bill.{{Cite web |last=Bolotnikova |first=Marina |date=2024-06-04 |title=Republicans want to put pigs back in tiny cages. Again. |url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/353393/farm-bill-republicans-prop-12-gestation-crates-pork |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Vox |language=en-US}} No new farm bill has been passed as of November 2024.

See also

References

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External links

  • [https://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2018/general/pdf/topl.pdf#prop12 Text of Proposition 12]
  • [https://preventcrueltyca.com/ Prevent Cruelty California] – pro-proposition website
  • [https://stoptherottenegginitiative.org/ Californians Against Cruelty, Cages, and Fraud] – anti-proposition website
  • [https://www.sos.ca.gov/campaign-lobbying/cal-access-resources/measure-contributions/2018-ballot-measure-contribution-totals/17-0026-establishes-new-standards-confinement-certain-farm-animals-bans-sale-certain-non-complying-products-initiative-statute/ Prop 12 page in California Secretary of State's website]
  • [https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_12,_Farm_Animal_Confinement_Initiative_(2018) California Proposition 12, Farm Animal Confinement Initiative (2018)] at Ballotpedia
  • [https://ballotpedia.org/Treatment_of_animals_on_the_ballot Treatment of animals on the ballot] at Ballotpedia

Category:2018 California ballot propositions

Category:Agriculture in California

Category:Animal welfare and rights legislation in the United States

Category:Initiatives in the United States

Category:United States agriculture legislation