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House advances bill restricting labeling of lab-cultivated meat; second reading passes unanimously
Summary
The House gave S.B. 103 a second reading on a 109-0 vote after Representative Hadden explained a bill that would ban marketing lab-cultivated protein as 'meat' or similar animal protein names and require distinct labeling.
The South Carolina House gave S.B. 103 a second reading by a 109-0 vote after Representative Patrick Hadden described the bill as a consumer-protection and industry-protection measure that would prohibit labeling and advertising of artificial or cell-cultivated food products as conventional animal proteins.
"This bill bans advertising, selling, marketing, and offering artificial or cell cultivated food products as beef, poultry, fish, crustacean, or any other animal protein," Hadden said while explaining the measure on the floor. The bill would add a definition for artificial or cell-cultivated food products and make it unlawful to falsely market such products as traditional meat.
Representative Magnuson asked whether it is currently illegal to sell lab-produced meat in the state; Hadden replied that current law allows such products to be sold but that this bill would impose labeling and marketing restrictions. The exchange focused on the scope of existing law and whether the new statute would create additional restrictions on marketing rather than a sales ban.
After the unanimous second-reading vote the bill was set on the calendar for a third reading, with supporters saying the measure protects South Carolina producers and consumers by preventing potentially confusing labeling.
Vote: Second reading passed 109-0; sponsors requested and received unanimous consent to advance to third reading on a subsequent legislative day.
