Brooks Animal Law Digest - Issue No. 42 (July 27, 2020)

Michigan House Bill No. 6009 proposes to ban certain surgeries performed on dogs for cosmetic or breed standard reasons, including tail docking, ear cropping, and debarking.

New Jersey Assembly No. 4439 would make confining a pregnant pig in farrowing crate or in another way that prevents her from turning around or fully extending her limbs a disorderly persons offense, subject to a fine of between $250 and $1000 dollars.

Two cases stemming from 2017 when the United States Department of Agriculture removed Animal Welfare Act enforcement records from its website—an incident referred to as the USDA Blackout—have been settled. The settlement includes the agency’s commitment that it has restored and will continue to provide public access to the records at issue.

A group of meatpacking plant workers have filed suit against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, seeking to compel the agency to force their employer to implement COVID-19 protections.

Michigan House Bill No. 6009 proposes to ban certain surgeries performed on dogs for cosmetic or breed standard reasons, including tail docking, ear cropping, and debarking.

New Jersey Assembly No. 4439 would make confining a pregnant pig in farrowing crate or in another way that prevents her from turning around or fully extending her limbs a disorderly persons offense, subject to a fine of between $250 and $1000 dollars.

Two cases stemming from 2017 when the United States Department of Agriculture removed Animal Welfare Act enforcement records from its website—an incident referred to as the USDA Blackout—have been settled. The settlement includes the agency’s commitment that it has restored and will continue to provide public access to the records at issue.

A federal judge in Florida has dismissed a proposed class action claiming that Burger King misled patrons into thinking its Impossible Whoppers were cooked separately from its meat products.

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed suit against the Department of the Interior for allegedly failing to turn over documents related to the agency’s decision to stop grizzly bear recovery efforts in Washington State under the Freedom of Information Act.

A group of meatpacking plant workers have filed suit against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, seeking to compel the agency to force their employer to implement COVID-19 protections.

The Food Safety Inspection Service has acknowledged receipt of a petition by the Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic requesting that the agency adopt a labeling approach for cell-based meat and poultry products that respects the First Amendment, prioritizes consumer safety while preserving consumer choice, and enables American innovations to compete fairly.