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Attorney outlines some Prop 12 misconceptions

California’s Proposition 12 is in full effect and an ag law expert says pork producers need to be clear on the rules.

Eldon McAfee is an attorney with Brick Gentry Law Firm representing the Iowa Pork Producers Association. He tells Brownfield Prop 12 applies to whole-pork meat.

“Ground pork is not subject to it,” he said. “Anything processed is also not subject, so there is pork that can go into California without being subject to Prop 12.”

Proposition 12 bans the sale of pork, veal, and eggs in California from animals anywhere in the country whose confinement does not meet minimum space requirements.

McAfee says some operations won’t be impacted. “One misconception I hear is it applies to finishing hogs,” he said. “Well, no, it applies to the gestation sows that produce those finishing pigs. The auditing is a bit different than some other commodities.”

He says all producers and distributors must be audited by a verified third party and self-certification is no longer an option.

McAfee spoke to Brownfield at the 2024 Iowa Pork Congress.