Iowa AG joins appeal against Massachusetts hog housing rules

DES Moines, Iowa – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joins 21 other states in supporting an appeal against Massachusetts hog housing requirements.

Bird’s office said it goes further than California’s Proposition 12 that was upheld by the US Supreme Court.

Regulations inMassachusetts ban the sale of pork in their state, if their housing requirements aren’t met. That means sows in confinement need to have enough room to move around.

An attorney for Iowa’s Pork Producers Association said it would create a financial burden for Iowa hog producers.

“Our main concern is the cost of having facilities that allow for the sows to be housed in compliance with the lying down, turning around freely, etc,” said Eldon McAfee, attorney for the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “That requires a significant investment in modifying their facilities for this meat to comply with Massachusetts law.”

In a statement, Bird said the ban is unconstitutional.

“Iowa farmers are left with two drastic options: pay the extreme costs to comply with red tape that could drive them out of business or be banned from selling their pork,” she said.