Court Rules Hen Welfare Proposition Stands
US - A California Court has affirmed that Proposition 2 - the 2008 farm animal protection law covering layers - remains on track to take effect in 2015.The Superior Court of California in Fresno County has upheld Proposition 2, the California ballot measure banning the inhumane confinement of egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and veal calves in cages so small the animals cannot stretch their limbs, lie down or turn around, according to Humane Society of the Unites States (HSUS). The ruling is a result of the third unsuccessful lawsuit by some in the egg industry challenging the measure.
The court rejected the claim that the law was unclear, holding that: “The fact that the statute defines confinement limitations in terms of animal behaviours rather than in square inches or other precise measurements does not render the statute facially vague.”
“We sincerely hope the Court’s ruling will put this objection to rest once and for all,” said Jonathan R. Lovvorn, senior vice president and chief counsel for animal protection litigation for HSUS. “The opponents of Proposition 2 have had their day in court, three times now, and it’s time to get on with the process of transitioning egg operations to meet the needs of animals and the will of California voters.