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House committee hears competing views on labeling of lab‑cultured and insect‑based proteins; votes to hold bill, return RS to sponsor
Summary
The committee heard testimony for and against a proposal to require front‑panel labeling of lab‑cultured (cell‑based) and insect proteins. Testimony urged a federal uniform standard; sponsors argued for state disclosure. The committee voted to hold House Bill 24 and returned the replacement RS to the sponsor.
Representative Heather Scott (R‑2A) introduced House Bill 24 and a related replacement RS (RS32147) intending to require plain‑language labeling of “alternative animal proteins,” including insect products and cell‑cultured animal proteins. Scott described the proposal as a consumer‑transparency measure and said it would allow state enforcement by the Idaho Department of Agriculture.
Why it matters: proponents said Idaho consumers should be able to identify insect or cell‑cultured proteins on principal display panels; opponents warned a state‑by‑state patchwork could impose major costs on multistate manufacturers and distributors and urged uniform federal labeling instead.
Public testimony: Elizabeth Kreiner of Food Northwest and Melinda Merrill of the Northwest Grocery Retail Association opposed the state‑level labeling approach, saying product manufacturers and retailers prefer a national standard to avoid a patchwork of different state rules. Kreiner noted federal legislative work on labeling and urged a coordinated national standard; Merrill said a state patchwork would confuse consumers.
Doug Jones of Growers for Biotechnology also advised the committee to seek federal uniformity, drawing on experience from the national GMO labeling debate. Pam Eaton, representing the Idaho Retailers Association and Idaho Lodging & Restaurant Association, told the committee restaurants commonly use short menu descriptions and urged caution about adding principal‑display‑panel or menu labeling that could clutter menus.
Sponsor response: Representative Scott said she favored plain labeling on the front of packages while noting the RS removed the word “meat” and used the term “animal cell‑based food product.” She said the RS allows the Idaho Department of Agriculture to promulgate implementing rules and suggested the state approach could prompt federal action.
Committee action: Representative Cannon moved that the committee hold House Bill 24 in committee; the motion passed by voice vote. Later Representative Cannon offered a motion to introduce RS32147 and send it to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Schertz moved, as a substitute, to return RS32147 to the sponsor. The substitute motion to return the RS passed, and the RS was returned to the sponsor. No recorded roll‑call tallies were provided in committee minutes for these voice votes.
Points of contention: opponents emphasized interstate commerce and the cost to processors and distributors of differing state labels; several testifiers urged the committee to consider a memorial urging Congress to set a national standard. Supporters emphasized consumer disclosure and argued that state labeling would allow Idaho consumers to know what they are buying today.
Ending: The committee held HB24 and returned RS32147 to the sponsor for revision; legislators and industry representatives signaled willingness to explore federal coordination or a memorial urging congressional action.
