California Agrees to Modify Prop 12 Implementation
California has modified the implementation date for Proposition 12 compliance from July 1 to Dec. 31, in an attempt to achieve a smoother transition for the entire pork value chain, including foreign trading partners.
A Sacramento County judge’s order blocking enforcement of Proposition 12 had been scheduled to expire July 1, but the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) agreed that any product spoken for and in production prior to the July 1 deadline would be grandfathered in. This is an extension of time for the sale of non-compliant whole pork meat, provided that the meat is in the supply chain by July 1. If it is in the supply chain by July 1, that product can be sold in California until December 31. Anything harvested after July 1, to be sold in California, will still have to be Proposition 12 compliant.
“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,” says National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) CEO Bryan Humphreys. “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.”
CDFA recognizes there will be a period of transition, according to guidance documents from the Animal Care Program. For the remainder of 2023, CDFA will focus limited implementation resources, not on covered products already in commerce, but rather on 1) outreach to ensure all distributors who are required to register do so; 2) accreditation of third-party certifying agents so that when third-party certification is required for producers and distributor registration beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, producers and distributors have more options; and 3) certification of producers and distributors.
Steve Meyer, economist with Partners for Production Agriculture, says six months will not give the pork industry enough time, but it will help.
“California accounts for about 14% of our consumption. We probably don't have half of that ready to go into there at this point. We'll gain on that, but it won't solve the problem completely, even at a 6-month delay in my opinion," Meyer said earlier in June during a live taping of U.S. Farm Report at the World Pork Expo.
Humphreys acknowledges NPPC's appreciation for Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta and the CDFA's efforts over the past month to find a solution to achieve a smoother transition for the entire pork value chain.
“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," Humphreys says.
Read more:
Special Alert: California Proposition 12 Releases New Guidance
Is the EATS Act the Answer to Prop 12 Concerns?
Unmet Needs: Will California Struggle to Meet Pork Demand with Prop 12?
Discouraging Outlook Ahead but Bright Spots Exist
Will Congress Intervene To Counter Prop 12? Grassley Says Yes!
