February 1, 2012
www.gfb.org
Vol. 30 No. 5
BILL SUBMITTED TO IMPLEMENT CARE STANDARDS FOR EGG-LAYING HENS A bill that would establish new care standards for egg-laying hens was introduced in the U.S. House on Jan. 23 by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.). The bill implements an agreement reached last summer between United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States. The bill, H.R. 3798, specifies a phased-in move to mandatory enriched-cage housing for all commercial layers in the U.S. Enriched-cage housing has nearly double the space of conventional cages, and this action would cost the U.S. egg industry an estimated $4 billion over the next 15-17 years. Georgia Farm Bureau opposes any laws which would mandate specific farming practices in livestock or poultry production. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s policy is to oppose efforts to legislate animal care standards, supporting instead welfare criteria that are established using science-based methods. Saying the bill sets an unwelcome precedent for government intrusion on all livestock and poultry farms nationwide, AFBF sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives expressing opposition to the bill. In the letter, AFBF said it would set a dangerous precedent by establishing federal requirements for egg production practices and banning a number of other proven science-based egg production methods. “This bill would result in mandated animal care standards based largely on the political goals of an animal rights group that seeks to eventually shut down animal agriculture by government mandate,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “The bill ignores the science supporting the consensus among mainstream agricultural veterinarians, animal scientists and livestock producers. We see this legislation as an attempt by a radical animal rights group to legitimize a policy package that will undoubtedly be used to bully other livestock producers.” H.R. 3798 would pre-empt state laws, including mandatory standards already established in Michigan and Ohio, and it contains a special provision for California to recognize the implementation of that state’s Proposition 2 in 2015. The bill also includes labeling requirements for eggs and new air-quality standards for hen houses. H.R. 3798 was assigned to the House Ag Committee the same day it was introduced. Schrader is a member of the House Ag Committee. The bill has three co-sponsors, Reps. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Sam Farr (D-Calif.) and Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.).