Fighting back against 'cage free' requirements

The National Association of Egg Farmers is urging lawmakers to support language included in the farm bill that seeks to uphold the U.S. Constitution commerce clause. The clause says Congress is to regulate commerce among states, but the group alleges certain states are implementing laws regulating how eggs are produced outside the state and then imported into that state. The Association says states are pressing for the removal of cages for egg-laying hens on the basis of animal welfare. However, the Association says cages reduce mortality rates for chickens. The specific language supported by egg producers, introduced by Iowa Representative Steve King, is the Protect Interstate Commerce Act. The association says the legislation prevents activist states like California from unconstitutionally regulating interstate commerce in agriculture by imposing regulatory hurdles on other states. King says the language ensures “agricultural products are not denied access to some of the nation’s largest markets.”