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Justice Department Sues California Over Egg Production Rules

California’s hen welfare mandates are claimed to violate federal authority under the 1970 Egg Products Inspection Act, burdening consumers with higher prices.

President Donald Trump’s administration sued California over egg prices on Wednesday, claiming the state’s Prop 12 violates U.S. farming laws and regulations. 
A ranch worker carries and sorts eggs on a semi-automated production line at Hilliker's Ranch Fresh Eggs in Lakeside, California, U.S., April 19, 2022. Picture taken April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Department of Justice filed suit on July 10 in Los Angeles federal court against California, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta over state egg and poultry regulations.
  • The complaint asserts that the Egg Products Inspection Act grants exclusive oversight of egg safety to federal agencies and preempts conflicting state laws.
  • DOJ lawyers contend California’s hen confinement standards impose costly requirements that have pushed egg prices upward across the United States.
  • California’s voter-approved animal welfare measures from 2008 and 2018 have survived earlier challenges in federal courts and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
  • The lawsuit represents the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce regulatory burdens and now awaits California’s formal response before moving forward.