In the United States, the conditions in which many animals raised for meat live their lives are nothing short of brutal. The plight of these animals has long been a concern for animal rights activists and food safety advocates. Fortunately, in recent years, there has been significant progress in addressing these issues at the state level, with more than a dozen states enacting laws to improve animal welfare and food safety standards. However, a new proposal in Congress, the Republican-led Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression, or EATS Act, threatens to undo these hard-fought victories.

Source: The Humane League/YouTube

The Eats Act seeks to strip states and localities of their authority to set animal welfare and food safety standards. If passed, this legislation could not only jeopardize more than 1,000 state and local health and safety laws but also reverse the progress made in improving the living conditions of farmed animals. The act is part of the broader agriculture policy package known as the Farm Bill, which increases the possibility of it becoming law.

Currently, there are no federal laws or standards governing the treatment of farmed animals, leaving it up to individual states to create regulations that protect these animals. States like Massachusetts have taken significant steps in this regard, passing laws that ban extreme confinement of farmed animals and ensuring they have enough space to move freely. However, the EATS Act threatens to undermine these regulations and essentially create an “anything goes” scenario when it comes to regulating animal agriculture.

Supporters of the EATS Act argue that such laws regulating food production will increase the cost of meat and eggs, making them less affordable for consumers. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between affordability and animal welfare. Advocates for Animal rights stress that the Eats Act could leave animals on farms without protection or even a slight improvement in their living conditions, effectively disregarding their welfare.

The EATS Act also has implications beyond animal welfare. It aims to invalidate laws like California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of meat and eggs from animals held in extreme confinement. The pork industry, in particular, has been pushing to overturn Proposition 12, but the US Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality. Now, the focus has shifted to the EATS Act as a means to circumvent these regulations.

In addition to concerns about animal welfare, the EATS Act could weaken protections for public health. Many states currently require pre-entry inspection and disease control measures for farm animals entering their borders, which are essential to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. The Eats Act could undermine these measures, posing a risk not only to animals but also to farmers and businesses that prioritize humane treatment and disease control.

The Eats Act, if passed, could have far-reaching consequences for animal welfare, public health, and the rights of states to establish their own laws and regulations. While proponents argue that it will keep food affordable, it is crucial to consider the ethical and health implications of such legislation.

Sign this petition to ask that the USDA enforce the Animal Welfare Act!

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