Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision upholding California’s Proposition 12, which limits the sale of pork products in California produced using extreme confinement.
Public Justice released the following statement regarding the decision:
“This decision is a win for workers, farmed animals, and public health, and we are proud to have played a role in it.
In our amicus brief defending Proposition 12, we argued that extreme confinement facilitates the spread of zoonotic diseases among animals. This puts slaughterhouse workers, drivers, livestock auction employees, and other workers who interact with animal carcasses at increased risk for contracting such diseases and spreading them to their communities. During oral argument for this case, Justice Sotomayor appeared to rely on the brief when citing information about the spread of zoonotic diseases among swine.
This decision protects California’s animal agriculture workers from disease, while creating higher welfare conditions for farmed animals sold within its borders. While we have a long way to go towards a food system that contributes to the well-being of workers, communities, and animals, this decision moved us one step forward towards that vision.”