The National Pork Producers Council has responded to allegations from the Humane Society of the United States regarding unlawful checkoff lobbying, saying that there appears to be no legal merit to the claim, according to reports.
The Humane Society filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Inspector General, asking for an investigation into the National Pork Board's potential use of checkoff dollars to support the council's lobbying efforts. “This is the latest bullying tactic by the HSUS in its efforts to force the NPPC to abandon its position on allowing farmers to choose production practices that are best for the welfare of their animals," said the council.
"Over the past few months, the HSUS has threatened the NPPC with a Federal Trade Commission complaint; filed notice of its intent to sue a number of hog operations over alleged emissions reporting violations; and charged that the NPPC was responsible for the deaths of hogs in barn fires because the organization asked to give input on national fire standards for agricultural facilities. All of the allegations lack merit.”
