California § 25991 - Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the follo
Full text of California Public Contract Code - PCC § 25991 — Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the follo, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 25991. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the follo
Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) âBreeding pigâ means any female pig of the porcine species kept for the purpose of commercial breeding who is six months or older or pregnant. (b) âBusiness owner or operatorâ means any person who owns or controls the operations of a business. (c) âCage-free housing systemâ means an indoor or outdoor controlled environment for egg-laying hens within which hens are free to roam unrestricted; are provided enrichments that allow them to exhibit natural behaviors, including, at a minimum, scratch areas, perches, nest boxes, and dust bathing areas; and within which farm employees can provide care while standing within the hensâ usable floorspace. Cage-free housing systems include, to the extent they comply with the requirements of this subdivision, the following: (1) Multitiered aviaries, in which hens have access to multiple elevated platforms that provide hens with usable floorspace both on top of and underneath the platforms. (2) Partially slatted systems, in which hens have access to elevated flat platforms under which manure drops through the flooring to a pit or litter removal belt below. (3) Single-level all-litter floor systems bedded with litter, in which hens have limited or no access to elevated flat platforms. (4) Any future systems that comply with the requirements of this subdivision. (d) âCalf raised for vealâ means any calf of the bovine species kept for the purpose of producing the food product described as veal. (e) âConfined in a cruel mannerâ means any one of the following acts: (1) Confining a covered animal in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending the animalâs limbs, or turning around freely. (2) After December 31, 2019, confining a calf raised for veal with less than 43 square feet of usable floorspace per calf. (3) After December 31, 2021, confining a breeding pig with less than 24 square feet of usable floorspace per pig. (4) After December 31, 2019, confining an egg-laying hen with less than 144 square inches of usable floorspace per hen. (5) After December 31, 2021, confining an egg-laying hen with less than the amount of usable floorspace per hen required by the 2017 edition of the United Egg Producersâ Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg-Laying Flocks: Guidelines for Cage-Free Housing or in an enclosure other than a cage-free housing system. (f) âCovered animalâ means any calf raised for veal, breeding pig, or egg-laying hen who is kept on a farm. (g) âEgg-laying henâ means any female domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guineafowl kept for the purpose of egg production. (h) âEnclosureâ means a structure used to confine a covered animal or animals. (i) âFarmâ means the land, building, support facilities, and other equipment that are wholly or partially used for the commercial production of animals or animal products used for food or fiber; and does not include live animal markets, establishments at which mandatory inspection is provided under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.), or official plants at which mandatory inspection is maintained under the federal Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 1031 et seq.). (j) âFarm owner or operatorâ means any person who owns or controls the operations of a farm. (k) âFully extending the animalâs limbsâ means fully extending all limbs without touching the side of an enclosure, or another animal. (l) âLiquid eggsâ means eggs of an egg-laying hen broken from the shells, intended for human food, with the yolks and whites in their natural proportions, or with the yolks and whites separated, mixed, or mixed and strained. Liquid eggs do not include combination food products, including pancake mixes, cake mixes, cookies, pizzas, cookie dough, ice cream, or similar processed or prepared food products, that are comprised of more than liquid eggs, sugar, salt, water, seasoning, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, stabilizers, and similar food additives. (m) âPersonâ means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate. (n) âPork meatâ means meat, as defined in Section 900 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations as of August 2017, of a pig of the porcine species, intended for use as human food. (o) âSaleâ means a commercial sale by a business that sells any item covered by this chapter, but does not include any sale undertaken at an establishment at which mandatory inspection is provided under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.), or any sale undertaken at an official plant at which mandatory inspection is maintained under the federal Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 1031 et seq.). For purposes of this section, a sale shall be deemed to occur at the location where the buyer takes physical possession of an item covered by Section 25990. (p) âShell eggâ means a whole egg of an egg-laying hen in its shell form, intended for use as human food. (q) âTurning around freelyâ means turning in a complete circle without any impediment, including a tether, and without touching the side of an enclosure or another animal. (r) âUncookedâ means requiring cooking prior to human consumption. (s) âUsable floorspaceâ means the total square footage of floorspace provided to each covered animal, as calculated by dividing the total square footage of floorspace provided to the animals in an enclosure by the number of animals in that enclosure. In the case of egg-laying hens, usable floorspace shall include both groundspace and elevated level flat platforms upon which hens can roost, but shall not include perches or ramps. (t) âVeal meatâ means meat, as defined in Section 900 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations as of August 2017, of a calf raised for veal intended for use as human food. (u) âWhole pork meatâ means any uncooked cut of pork, including bacon, ham, chop, ribs, riblet, loin, shank, leg, roast, brisket, steak, sirloin, or cutlet, that is comprised entirely of pork meat, except for seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives. Whole pork meat does not include combination food products, including soups, sandwiches, pizzas, hotdogs, or similar processed or prepared food products, that are comprised of more than pork meat, seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives. (v) âWhole veal meatâ means any uncooked cut of veal, including chop, ribs, riblet, loin, shank, leg, roast, brisket, steak, sirloin, or cutlet, that is comprised entirely of veal meat, except for seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives. Whole veal meat does not include combination food products, including soups, sandwiches, pizzas, hotdogs, or similar processed or prepared food products, that are comprised of more than veal meat, seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives.
Source: official California text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About California § 25991
What does Public Contract Code - PCC § 25991 cover?
Section 25991 ("Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the follo") is part of the Public Contract Code - PCC, the codified statutory law of California. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite California § 25991?
A common citation format is "Public Contract Code - PCC § 25991" (California). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of California law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the California official source linked on this page or consult a licensed California attorney.
How does California § 25991 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in California can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in California.