Massachusetts consumers may not have to stockpile eggs and pork quite yet.
Lawmakers in Massachusetts are close to passing a law that would delay the effective date of a rule banning the sale of pork that doesn’t meet the state’s production standards, Meatingplace reports.
The rule is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. However, the Massachusetts House passed a law on Oct. 5 that would delay the Question 3 proposal, which contains a similar provision to California’s Proposition 12 animal welfare rule.
Massachusetts voters approved the delay and the recent House vote sends the bill back to the state Senate. A final decision could be reached as soon as this week, media report. If approved, the proposal would take effect Jan. 1, 2023.
In May, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) filed comments on this 2016 ballot initiative which prohibits the sale of pork produced using certain production methods.
“Clear guidance is critical in ensuring that the regulatory requirements being developed are feasible and will not disrupt the supply of pork to Massachusetts consumers and NPPC commends the Attorney General for seeking out Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) authority to put forth regulations,” NPPC wrote in the comments.
NPPC said MDAR’s understanding of modern livestock and pork production, an industry that resides almost entirely outside the borders of the Commonwealth, is critical.
“NPPC is hopeful that this collaboration will lead to a regulatory process that establishes substantive dialogue with the impacted stakeholders, not just farmers but throughout the entire supply chain, to develop final regulations,” the organization wrote.
NPPC pressed for Question 3’s implementation date to be delayed by two years to Jan. 1, 2024.
“The time and cost of this challenge has been exacerbated over the last two years as the industry struggles to overcome the challenges – both to our workers and to the marketplaces for pigs and pork – caused by COVID-19,” NPPC wrote.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Pork Industry Urges Massachusetts to Alter, Delay Production Initiative
Delay Implementation of Proposition 12, Food Industry Leaders Urge
