House Agriculture committee backs introduction of bill to require labeling for lab-grown meat and insect proteins

BOISE — The Idaho House Agriculture Committee on an early voice vote agreed to introduce RS 31941, a bill that would add a new chapter to Title 37 to require front-of-package and ingredient-list labeling for alternative animal proteins, including lab-grown (cultured) meat and insects.

Rep. Heather Scott, sponsor of RS 31941, told committee members the measure is “designed to empower consumers regarding the foods they purchase and consume.” Scott said the draft text would require common and scientific names on packaging, set ingredient-listing expectations and give the Idaho Department of Agriculture authority to oversee compliance and assess penalties for violations.

The nut of Scott’s proposal, she said, is transparency: “I think we as Idahoans have the right to know what’s in our food,” she said. Scott said the bill does not ban products but aims to distinguish traditional livestock products from “emerging alternative technologies.”

Committee members pressed Scott on specific scopes and enforcement. Rep. Levitt asked whether the labeling would apply to public institutions such as school lunch programs or correctional facilities; Scott said she would check the draft language and would address that in a hearing if the bill advances. Rep. Nielsen expressed concern about how seafood and crustaceans would be handled and Scott said the bill asks for both a common name and a scientific name so items like shrimp would be labeled by their common name on menus and packaging.

Scott cited the federal regulatory framework during the discussion and said she did not want the committee to rely solely on federal rules for state labeling. She told members that, per federal practice described in her remarks, the Food and Drug Administration regulates insects as food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and requires good manufacturing practices, allergen labeling and ingredient lists; for cultivated (cell-cultured) meat, Scott said the FDA oversees cell collection and initial safety and the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees harvesting, processing and labeling.

On enforcement, the draft text includes a civil penalty of $500 per mislabeled item; Scott told the committee that the bill is written so the penalty applies per item and could accumulate for multiple units. She also said the bill’s fiscal note indicates it could be implemented with current Idaho Department of Agriculture staff and that no additional fiscal cost was identified at this time.

Members asked about outreach to producer groups. Rep. Raymond asked whether the Farm Bureau and cattle producers had been consulted; Scott said she had spoken to the Farm Bureau and planned to meet other producer groups before a hearing. Rep. Deiger requested information on how these products have been tested for food safety and nutritional content; Scott responded that federal oversight exists but that she intends to provide further information when the bill is heard.

After questions, Rep. Garner moved to introduce RS 31941. There was no recorded roll-call; the committee chair called for a voice vote, members responded in the affirmative and the motion passed.

The committee’s agenda also included a schedule for a multi-day rules review; members set the committee’s next meeting for Monday to begin consideration of docketed rules. Dr. Ellen Upton, the Idaho Science and Technology Policy Fellow, was introduced to the committee as a staff resource for scientific and regulatory questions.

Votes at a glance: RS 31941 — Motion to introduce (moved by Rep. Garner); outcome: motion passed by voice vote (tally not recorded).