Settlement agreement reached on Question 3 pork rules

The Restaurant Law Center, four state restaurant associations and the National Pork Producers Council have reached an agreement with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources on two technical clarifications regarding Question 3 pork rules.

Under the terms of the settlement the pork rules would not apply to whole pork meat that is already in the supply chain as of Aug. 23. Also, the rules would not apply to whole pork meat that goes to distribution centers in Massachusetts, but is ultimately destined for restaurants in another state, even if a sale occurs in Massachusetts as part of the supply chain. Additionally, the Attorney General's Office has agreed not to enforce the transshipment portion of the pork rules while MDAR completes its rulemaking process.