New Jersey Law To Impact Housing and Care of Veal Calves, Breeding Pigs
Legislation in the state of New Jersey, signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy, now requires the State Board of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture to "adopt rules and regulations concerning the confinement, care and treatment of breeding pigs and calves raised for veal," says a recent release.
Similar to California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3, the bill “prohibits confinement in an enclosure that impacts a breeding pig and calf’s ability to freely move in certain ways and properly groom itself and that limits visual contact with other calves,” explains the release.
Following Gov. Murphy’s signing on July 26, the release notes rules and regulations must be adopted within 180 days as penalties will be established for violators.
However, some exceptions to the rules and regulations, announced by the State Board and the Department, have been included in the bill.
These exceptions, as listed by the state of New Jersey, include:
1. Medical research
2. Examination, testing or veterinary treatment that is supervised by a licensed veterinarian, either in person or via a telemedicine appointment
3. Transportation
4. State or county fair exhibitions, 4-H programs or similar temporary exhibitions
5. Humane slaughter in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
6. Confinement of a breeding pig during the 14-day period prior to the expected date of the breeding pig giving birth or on any day when the breeding pig is nursing piglets
“The humane treatment of domestic livestock has long been a major priority for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, and we endorse legislation that supports those rules while ensuring the farmers’ right to raise livestock,” said New Jersey Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Joe Atchison III, in the release.
Primary sponsors of the bill (A-1970/S-1298), Senators Nick Scutari and Vin Gopal, respectively, were able to pass the legislation in the state Senate in June 2023, while Assembly members Raj Makherji, Daniel Benson and Carol Murphy successfully passed the bill through the state Assembly in May 2023.
The legislation is part of an extensive coalition co-led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, according to a HSUS release.
