The Arkansas House passed a bill “that outlaws wine imports from any state that imposes a ‘substantial burden’ on the Arkansas agriculture industry,” says the Associated Press. Sponsor Dan Douglas of Bentonville says the legislation is aimed at California and its animal-welfare standards for egg-laying hens. The AP quotes Douglas as saying, “We have to show the state of California they cannot force their standards on us.”
As of Jan. 1, California says eggs shipped into the state must be produced under the same standards that its farmers must follow – enough room for hens to stand up, fully extend their wings and turn around. Douglas says the California rules are a nightmare for Arkansas egg farmers. Under his bill, the state Agriculture Department would decide what is unduly burdensome. Most of the wine sold in Arkansas comes from California, says the AP.