According to CCTV News, on July 9, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against the state of California over its regulations on eggs and poultry farms. The federal government argues that California's animal welfare laws impose "unnecessary red tape," leading to higher egg prices nationwide.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Los Angeles, asserts that the 1970 Egg Products Inspection Act should take precedence over state-level regulations. The federal law authorizes the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee egg products, ensuring consumer health and mandating uniform safety standards across the country.
California has passed several laws regulating poultry farming, including a ban on confining hens in cramped spaces where they cannot "lie down, stand up, turn around freely and fully extend their limbs." These state laws are reportedly designed to reduce animal cruelty and minimize foodborne illness risks.
However, the federal government emphasizes in its lawsuit that only the federal government holds the authority to regulate egg product safety. While California can regulate poultry farms within its borders, it cannot impose additional requirements on eggs imported from other states.
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