National standard not right for eggs

Your Iowa readers need to learn there are dissenting opinions to The Gazette's 'Eggs-acting demands” (April 27 editorial).

Iowa is the leading egg-producing state and exports about 30 percent of California consumers' needs for eggs. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is to be commended for looking out for Iowa's egg farmers and the state's economy by supporting the Missouri lawsuit against the California egg law. The state has the right to enact laws or regulations governing the production of eggs within its borders, but it cannot specify production standards in Iowa. By doing so, California is assuming the role of determining the commerce of eggs, which is a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

California Title 3 Section 1350 requires out-of-state egg farmers selling eggs in California to implement that state's food safety regulations that go beyond the federal regulations under FDA's food safety standards for eggs.

The Gazette's suggestion that one national federal standard for egg production might be a solution (to the dispute) actually would lead to the smaller egg farmers throughout the country, including those in Iowa, going out of business. Whereas the larger egg complexes could make the transition gradually over a 15-year period, the smaller egg farmers would be forced to make the conversion in one step, leading to an economic disadvantage. As to the organizations representing 90 percent being in favor of this national standard, a handful of companies made the decision and their egg cooperative carried out the dictates.

The implied claims that increasing space for hens leads to better welfare is incorrect. The American Veterinary Medical Association in 2010 released a report on the welfare implications of various kinds of housing. (http://smgs.us/3jh4) The report concluded consumers need to balance the hen's freedom against exposure to potential hazards such as disease vectors and the cannibalism caused by pecking. In conventional cages where the number of chickens is minimized, these concerns are also reduced compared to other systems.

Kenneth Anderson, North Carolina State University, presented his research findings at the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention in March 2010. He noted that chickens reared in conventional cages had significantly greater numbers of Grade A eggs and total eggs produced and significantly better feed conversion rates (meaning a lower carbon footprint), and a better immune response (better able to resist disease).

The National Association of Egg Farmers, representing egg farmers throughout the nation, remains opposed to one national standard. We have learned from the mistakes in the European Union and its egg law of 1999. An international economist predicts that 30 percent of the German egg farmers likely will become insolvent by October. This same sort of disaster would occur in Iowa and elsewhere should one national standard become law.

' Ken Klippen, National Association of Egg Farmers, www.eggfarmers.org. klklippen@gmail.com