Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 7/13/16


Voters in the Bay State may be able to vote this fall on an initiative that would bar the use of gestation pens for pregnant sows and other confinement programs.

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has approved a referendum that may appear on the November ballot. The proposed referendum still requires ballot petition signatures be delivered to the secretary of state this week to be certified to appear on the ballot.

The initiative — supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) —bans the use of gestation pens for sows, pens to confine veal calves and “battery cages” for laying hens. It also prohibits products derived from animals confined in these programs from being sold within the state, regardless of the state of origin.

Opponents like the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) argue that the measure would prevent hog farmers from managing their animals under rules already certified by the American Veterinary Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. The initiative also would boost prices and reduce consumption if products from confined animals also were banned from sale in Massachusetts, according to the NPPC.

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