Overview

• On July 9, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court challenging California’s egg and animal welfare regulations.
• The complaint targets Assembly Bill 1437, Proposition 2 and Proposition 12 for imposing standards that conflict with the federal Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970.
• The administration asserts that California’s cage-free requirements have increased egg prices for consumers across the United States.
• Industry experts and state officials say that a bird flu outbreak since 2022, which killed millions of hens, is the main cause of recent price spikes but is not mentioned in the lawsuit.
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta has pledged to defend the state’s regulations and prepare for extended legal battles.