WASHINGTON — The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today released a statement on a bill approved by the Massachusetts Legislature to delay enforcement of rules called for in Question 3, the Commonwealth’s animal confinement voter initiative. The bill now goes to the Governor to be signed into law.

“We appreciate the actions of Governor Charlie Baker and the Legislature to put Massachusetts consumers first and avoid further price hikes for pork,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “We welcome the expertise of the Department of Agriculture Resources in promulgating new rules and urge the Department to consider changes to provisions that are unworkable or overly burdensome.”

At issue is Question 3’s January 1, 2022, deadline prohibiting the sale of meat in Massachusetts from sows or the offspring of sows housed in a gestation crate.

In August, the Meat Institute submitted comments to the Massachusetts Attorney General calling for changes to the then proposed rules. Provisions related to the certification and record keeping of every transaction of hogs or pork products by packer processors are burdensome and costly.

About North American Meat Institute
The North American Meat Institute is a leading voice for the meat and poultry industry. The Meat Institute’s members process the vast majority of U.S. beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, as well as manufactures the equipment and ingredients needed to produce safe, high quality meat and poultry products.

–North American Meat Institute