Cage-Free Laws in Effect Soon
November 2024
Cage-Free Laws Newsletter
15 states currently have laws that ban the extreme confinement of animals, including egg-laying hens, gestating sows, and calves raised for veal. Most of these laws are currently in effect, and three states are taking effect within the next few months.
Below is more information on the new laws going into effect and how to comply with them. It is important to ensure compliance with all state regulations by their respective deadlines to avoid facing fines or imprisonment.
To learn more, please visit www.cagefreelaws.com
Upcoming Deadlines
Arizona
After January 1, 2025, aside from certain exceptions, all eggs produced and sold in the state must come from hens housed in a cage-free manner.
Learn more about Arizona’s cage-free law and how to comply with it (note: the website displays in Firefox and Safari browsers, but not in the Chrome browser).
Colorado
Starting January 1, 2025, all egg-laying hens must be housed in a cage-free housing system. For an enclosure with "unfettered access to vertical space", each hen must have a minimum of one square foot of usable floor space. For a system with no vertical access, like a single-level all-litter floor system, each hen must have one and a half square feet of usable floor space."
Here’s more information on how to comply with Colorado’s cage-free law.
Michigan
By January 1, 2025, the use of battery cages and the in-state sale of eggs from hens raised under such caged conditions will be illegal. This legislation made Michigan the first state in the Midwest with a law prohibiting the production and sale of eggs from hens in battery cages.
Due to consumer confusion around the meaning of egg labels, caged eggs labeling is coming under scrutiny from Michigan’s attorney general.
Cage-Free News
Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the U.S., said it will invest $40 million to expand cage-free production as free-range hens make up a growing share of the nation’s flocks.
“The company is responding to growing customer demand and upcoming state mandates for cage-free eggs. With cage-free hens now making up 40% of the U.S. flock, Cal-Maine has seen a sharp rise in profits and a 20% increase in specialty egg sales.” Read the article here.
To learn more about the current state laws concerning extreme animal confinement, and your legal responsibilities as a business selling eggs or egg products, visit www.cagefreelaws.com
