Two states, Michigan and Ohio, are considering legislation to keep animal care and well-being in the hands of the two states rather than the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The legislation has bipartisan support. In Michigan, the legislation would establish the Michigan Agriculture Commission and Michigan Agriculture Department the sole authority for regulation of livestock and poultry health and welfare; it would also establish science-based standards for animal care that producers must implement by 2020, establish an animal care advisory council to keep the standards updated and establish a third-party auditing system to make sure the standards are in place.
What is interesting is that the creation of this committee must be ratified in an election.
This is being done to stop HSUS from forcing cage-free methods on egg producers through public referendums. If they wish to achieve their goal: I would advise that the rules do not include a charge to implement "science-based" standards for animal care. Most of the science I have seen suggests cage-free methods are better than cage methods for the animals. In Europe, a "scientific" report states that the cage method is the only method that cannot provide adequate care.
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