California to impose its elite food standards on farmers in other states

On Nov. 7 California voters approved Proposition 12, which will set new minimums for cage size for breeding pigs and calves sold in California. The proposition passed by an overwhelming majority. California's Legislative Analyst’s Office claims Proposition 12 will cause increased prices for eggs, pork and veal. Even the California Department of Food and Agriculture indicates its added workload to enforce it will cost the department approximately $10 million annually. Proposition 12 will impact farmers in all other states exporting these products to the California consumer. But, this is not a new problem.California will not allow by the end of 2019 the sale of any veal meat from a calf confined to an area smaller than the California standard. California will also ban the sale of eggs from hens raised in another state kept in an insufficient – read, based on California standards - amount of useable floor space.By the end of 2021 no state will be able to export and sell pork that comes from hogs raised in an area that does not meet California’s minimum space requirements.California officials presumably will respond by saying they have the responsibility for setting health and welfare requirements for their citizens and such health and safety requirements are more important than the Commerce Clause requirement.As a result, Proposition 12 will negatively impact out-of-state egg, pork, and veal producers who sell into the California market. Farmers in the other 49 states will see their costs shoot higher if they want to comply with California’s minimum space requirements.