Judge Allows Animal Outlook to Help Defend Animal Protection Law

On Friday, a California judge ruled against the North American Meat Institute’s (“NAMI”) request for a preliminary injunction to temporarily halt the implementation of Proposition 12, an animal protection law, until the full legal case can be heard. The same judge additionally ruled that Animal Outlook and other groups would be allowed to intervene in the lawsuit to defend this historic law.

Proposition 12, supported by animal protection groups including Animal Outlook, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Equality, The Humane League, Farm Sanctuary, and Compassion in World Farming USA, supplements prior California legislation that prohibits cruel confinement practices for egg-laying hens, pigs, and calves used for veal, as well as the sale of eggs derived from such practices. Proposition 12 provides further protection by imposing additional space requirements as well as banning the sale of pork and veal in the entire state of California if the product is the result of cruel confinement. Proposition 12’s requirements are slated to go into effect between 2020 and 2022.

Importantly, the sales ban applies to all products sold in the state of California regardless of where they are produced. The meat industry giant, NAMI, argued that Proposition 12 was unconstitutional, asking for a preliminary injunction that would block the law until NAMI’s lawsuit against the state of California is resolved, halting the implementation of these vital protections for animals.

Proposition 12 will quite literally impact the lives of millions of animals by reducing the suffering inherent to these inhumane confinement practices. Along with our coalition partners, we are proud to represent the interests of animals and grateful for Friday’s rulings.

However, on Friday, NAMI’s request for an injunction was denied, leaving Proposition 12’s animal protection standards still scheduled to be implemented between 2020 and 2022 pending the outcome of the legal case.

Additionally, the judge ruled to allow intervention by Animal Outlook and a coalition of animal groups led by HSUS to intervene in NAMI’s lawsuit as defendants with the state as California in order to uphold the historic law. Law firm Riley, Safer, Holmes, and Cancila represents the animal group coalition pro bono.

Though the powerful meat industry plans to fight Proposition 12, this coalition of animal protection groups is standing alongside the state of California to defend an important law that mitigates some of the most egregious cruelty inflicted on animals farmed for food.

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