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WASHINGTON - United States (US) President Donald Trump's administration filed a lawsuit against California on Wednesday, saying the state's regulations on egg and poultry production have driven up egg prices nationwide, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
"The State of California has contributed to the historic rise in egg prices by imposing unnecessary red tape on the production of eggs," the lawsuit states.
According to the US Department of Justice, California's laws - intended to reduce animal cruelty and mitigate the risk of foodborne illness - violate the Egg Products Inspection Act passed in 1970, which mandates national uniformity in egg safety standards.
The lawsuit continues, saying that only the federal government has the authority to regulate the quality, inspection, and packaging of eggs.
The regulations being challenged prohibit farmers from using "commonly accepted agricultural methods that helped keep eggs affordable," the Justice Department said in a statement.
California has passed several laws related to eggs and chicken farms, including initiatives in 2008 and 2018 requiring that hens be kept in enclosures where they can "lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs, and turn around freely." - BERNAMA
