WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 512

AGRICULTURE/MEAT: Provides relative to cell cultured food products

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beryl Amedée and 6 co-sponsors

Louisiana HB 512 bans manufacturing, selling, distributing, or mixing cell cultured food products with traditional meat for human consumption.

Effective date: See Act.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 512

Summary of HB 512 (2026, Louisiana) – Agriculture/Meat: Prohibits cell cultured food products

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Louisiana
  • Session: 2026
  • Bill: HB 512
  • Primary sponsor: Rep. Schamerhorn (co-sponsor: Rodney Schamerhorn)
  • Purpose: Prohibit the sale, manufacture, distribution, and related activities involving cell cultured food products; prohibit mixing cell cultured products with traditional meat products for human consumption.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • The bill seeks to strictly regulate and effectively ban cell cultured food products within Louisiana by:
    • Defining what constitutes a “cell cultured food product.”
    • Prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, hold-for-sale, or distribution of any cell cultured food product in the state.
    • Prohibiting the mixing of cell cultured food products with any “meat product” for sale as food for human consumption.

Key Provisions and Changes

New definition

  • Adds a definition to R.S. 3:4201(24):
    • “Cell cultured food product” means any cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside the organism from which it derived.

Prohibition on production and sale

  • Amends and reenacts several provisions and adds new prohibitions:
    • R.S. 3:4210.1 (Cell cultured food products; prohibition)
    • A. No person, firm, or corporation shall manufacture for sale, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute any cell cultured food product in Louisiana.
    • B. No person, firm, or corporation shall mix any cell-cultured food product with any “meat product” (as defined by R.S. 3:4743) for sale as human food.

Expanded prohibitions and penalties

  • Amends R.S. 3:4233(A) to include:
    • (4) The manufacturing, sale, offering for sale, or distribution of any cell cultured food product (as defined).
  • The section also enumerates typical violations and penalties related to meat inspection, labeling, sanitary requirements, records, and enforcement actions. These are expanded to include cell cultured food product prohibitions.

Who/What is Affected

  • Actors: Any person, firm, or corporation operating in Louisiana involved in:
    • Manufacturing cell cultured food products.
    • Selling, distributing, or holding for sale cell cultured food products.
    • Mixing cell cultured food products with traditional meat products for sale as human food.
  • Government/Regulatory: Louisiana Commissioner and related inspectors enforcing meat and sanitary regulations and labeling requirements.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development (as of March 9, 2026; earlier reference on Feb 26, 2026).
  • Effective date: Not specified in the text provided; typically, state bills specify an effective date (e.g., upon passage or a future date). If enacted, provisions would apply to activities occurring after the effective date.
  • Penalties and enforcement: Align with existing violation framework in R.S. 3:4233 and related sanitary and labeling regimes; includes potential civil penalties and injunctive relief.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Regulatory impact: Establishes a comprehensive ban on cell cultured foods in Louisiana, preventing production, sale, and distribution within the state.
  • Market implications: Could affect any entrepreneurs or companies proposing cell cultured meat products for Louisiana consumers; may influence supply chain, labeling, and product development strategies.
  • Public health and labeling: By prohibiting cell cultured products and related mixing with meat products, the bill reduces potential consumer confusion around product identity and safety regimes for these products within Louisiana.

Bottom Line

HB 512 would categorically prohibit cell cultured food products in Louisiana, including their manufacture, sale, distribution, hold-for-sale, and any mixing with traditional meat products for human consumption. It adds a specific definition of “cell cultured food product” and extends penalties for violations under the state’s meat and sanitary regulations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.