H.R. 2626: Pigs In Gestation Stalls Act of 2025

The Pigs In Gestation Stalls Act of 2025 (PIGS Act) is a proposed law aimed at amending the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the confinement of pregnant pigs in certain conditions. Here is an overview of what the bill entails:

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Confinement: The bill makes it unlawful for anyone to confine breeding pigs in a manner that prevents them from lying down, standing up, or turning around without any impediments. Specifically, beginning December 31, 2025, breeding pigs must have at least 24 square feet of usable floor space each.
• Exceptions: The bill outlines certain exceptions where confinement may not be considered cruel, such as during transportation, veterinary care, the days leading up to giving birth, or during slaughter conducted according to humane standards.

Findings

The bill includes findings that highlight:

• Intensive confinement poses significant animal welfare issues affecting the physical and psychological well-being of pigs.
• Many food retailers and states are moving towards ending such practices due to public concern.
• Some states have banned the sale of pork from farms that use gestation crates, linking this to human health and animal welfare.
• The bill aims to align the pork industry with consumer preferences, as more people are opting out of buying products from inhumane farming practices.

Implementation and Enforcement

• Penalties: Violating the prohibition on confinement could lead to penalties similar to those outlined in existing animal health laws.
• Financial Assistance: The Secretary of Agriculture is required to create a program to provide financial assistance to pig producers to help them comply with the new standards, especially focusing on independent pig producers.
• Funding: The bill plans to allocate at least $10 million from existing funds to support these efforts in the first two fiscal years following enactment.

Definitions

The bill defines several key terms:

• Breeding Pig: A female pig that is six months old or older and kept for breeding purposes, or is pregnant.
• Enclosure: Any cage, crate, or structure used to confine pigs, including gestation crates.
• Independent Pig Producer: A producer who owns their pigs and is not contracted by another entity to raise them.

Applicability

The provisions of this act are set to take effect one year after the bill becomes law.

Relevant Companies

• TSN (Tyson Foods): As a major player in the meat and poultry sector, Tyson could face operational changes and increased costs to comply with the new space requirements for breeding pigs.
• HRL (Hormel Foods): Hormel may need to adjust their sourcing of pork products and operations in light of the restricted practices, which could affect production and pricing strategies.
• WHR (Whirlpool): Though primarily a home products company, if they engage in any product lines associated with food production processes, they may need to consider how changes in animal welfare standards could impact their product offerings.