How Will California’s Prop 12 Affect the Pork Industry?

Proposition 12, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2022, pending lawsuits challenging its enactment, prohibits the sale of pork not produced according to California's highly prescriptive production standards, a NPPC release said. The proposition applies to any uncooked pork sold in the state, whether raised there or outside its borders.

Chris Hoffman, currently America’s Pig Farmer of the Year, says Proposition 12 will affect the pork industry across the nation, regardless of whether or not their farm is based in California.

“Anytime you have regulation that's being put together by folks from a state who are voting on something they truly don't understand really makes an issue for not only the pork industry, but all industries,” Hoffman says.

The regulation will make it difficult to sell pork in California as most pig farmers across the U.S. can’t meet the requirements, Hoffman says.

“When you look at California, they consume about 15% of the pork protein that we produce domestically. And that's going to be a real issue, because people in California love pork. Based on the regulation, there will be very little pork that will be able to be sold In California from across the United States, and so it's a big issue,” he continues.

“It really has a lot of problems with it and I think we're gonna really see some real pushback from the people of California when they can't get their pork chops and their bacon.”

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