CiWF hopeful of appeal in California foie gras case
A state-wide ban on foie gras came into force in July 2012, eight years after the legislation was signed by the then-Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
However last week (7 January) a federal judge issued a ruling that overturned the US state’s ban on the sale of foie gras, as it was deemed to be unconstitutional "because it interferes with a federal law right, which state law cannot do", said the animal welfare campaign group.
Judge Stephen Wilson, of the US District Court for California’s Central District, ruled that the ban was preempted by the federal Poultry Products Inspections Act, when it came to regulating the sale and distribution of the product.
CiWF said it was hopeful that an appeal against this ruling would be successful.
Meanwhile, many California restaurateurs are rejoicing at the decision, which will see foie gras put back on the menu with immediate effect.
CiWF is also calling on a Europe-wide ban on foie gras production. It is calling on the presidents of the European Commission and the EU Agriculture Council to take urgent action, and has set up an online petition.
Animal rights charity People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is also keen to see the practice banned. In December it wrote to the President of the European Commission in a bid to get foie gras taken off the EU politicians’ Christmas menu.
