Legislation implementation in Massachusetts targeting the sale of pork has once again been delayed. Question 3 (Q3), a bill similar to Proposition 12, bans the sale of pork from hogs born to sows housed in pens that don’t comply with the state’s standards. Introduced in 2016 as a ballot initiative, the bill was set to go into effect July 12.

However, confusion and inconsistencies have kept the rule at bay, allowing the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and restaurant associations to prepare. NPPC’s Chief Legal Strategist Michael Formica says the delay grants the state time to work with NPPC and its coalition partners to “address a number of remaining issues under Q3” before it is implemented. What does this mean for pork producers? If a pig farmer is other Prop 12 compliant but doesn’t meet the square footage requirements in Q3, they’ll likely still be able to market in Massachusetts.

Read more on Q3 and its implications here.