House committee hears bill to tighten labeling and testing rules for large-scale meat and poultry producers

The Georgia House Agriculture Committee on April 1 held a hearing on HBH 17 (LC600163S), a bill the author described as intended to improve transparency and fairness in labeling for large-scale meat and poultry producers. The committee did not take a vote; the item was presented for discussion and further refinement.

The bill, as described to the committee, would require producers and marketers that meet proposed “large-scale” thresholds to include conspicuous written disclosures about where and how livestock were raised. The draft defines large-scale grass-fed meat production as roughly 1,000,000 animals per year and large-scale pasture-raised poultry at about 250,000 birds per year (figures described in the bill text as a “ballpark” and subject to adjustment). The author said the measure aims to protect consumers who pay price premiums for labels such as “grass finished,” “pasture raised,” “grain finished” or…