Michigan’s Cage-Free Egg Law Survives DOJ Challenge
In a significant legal decision, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice challenging Michigan’s prohibition on the sale of eggs from hens confined in small cages. The DOJ’s inability to demonstrate how this state law harmed the Trump administration was central to the case’s dismissal.
U.S. District Court Judge Jane Beckering stated in her 12-page opinion that neither the existence of a preempted state law nor Michigan’s enforcement of the Sales Ban alone could establish a concrete injury to the DOJ’s enforcement of the Egg Products Inspection Act.
The DOJ’s lawsuit, initiated in January, argued that federal laws superseded Michigan’s restrictions and cited the supremacy clause. The case bore similarities to a previous lawsuit against California, which was also dismissed.
Nancy Barr, executive director of Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “We were very happy when the judge dismissed the case without prejudice,” she commented. Despite this win, Barr anticipates an appeal from the DOJ.
“We look to probably seeing an appeal come our way,” Barr noted. “We haven’t heard citizens of the state saying they don’t want this law in place.”
In 2019, Michigan amended the Animal Industry Act to prohibit the sale of eggs from birds housed in small cages, pushing businesses towards a “cage-free” model. The law, aimed at improving animal welfare, is set to be fully implemented by the end of 2024, allowing farms time to adapt.
According to Barr, poultry farmers have invested significantly to comply with the new standards, transforming barns and altering rearing practices to meet the cage-free criteria. The legislation defines a cage-free environment as one where hens can roam freely indoors and engage in natural behaviors.
“Our industry, as I said, is fully cage free. We feel that it’s going well,” Barr stated, emphasizing the high standards of bird welfare now in place.
The DOJ’s case also highlighted concerns over rising egg prices, linking the Michigan law to increased costs for American families. A memorandum from President Trump in January 2025 was cited to support claims of restricted supply and higher compliance costs.
However, USDA data reveal that egg prices have generally fallen nationwide following a peak due to avian influenza outbreaks.
Michigan, a leading state in egg production, ranks 7th in the U.S., producing between 300 to 400 million eggs annually, as noted by Michigan Allied Poultry Industries. The DOJ did not provide a comment on the case dismissal.
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