Cultivate food products; prohibit manufacture and sale of items produced from cultured animal cells.
HB 1006 prohibits the manufacture, sale, offering for sale, holding for sale, or distribution of “cultivated food products” in Mississippi, defined as food products produced from cultured animal cells. The bill makes violations a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to three months in county jail, or both. It also authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Commerce and the State Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the law.
The bill further ties violations by retail food establishments to existing licensing and permitting enforcement. A retail food establishment that sells or distributes cultivated food products may face disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of its license or permit under the applicable agriculture and health enforcement frameworks. The bill also amends Mississippi’s meat labeling law to clarify that products made from cultured animal tissue, as well as plant-based or insect-based products, may not be labeled as meat or a meat food product in the state.
In practical terms, the bill changes Mississippi law by creating a direct prohibition on cultivated meat and by expanding state enforcement authority over retailers and food establishments. It also updates Section 75-35-15 to address labeling and identity standards for meat products, reinforcing restrictions on how alternative protein products may be marketed. The effective date is July 1, 2025.
The overall sentiment reflected in the voting history was strongly supportive and unanimous in both chambers. The House passed the bill 116-0, the Senate passed it 50-0 as amended, and the House then concurred in the Senate amendment 116-0. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate in the supplied materials.
Because the votes were unanimous, there is little visible partisan or procedural contention in the record provided. The main substantive issue implied by the bill is opposition to lab-grown or cultivated meat and concern over labeling of meat alternatives, but no specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments appear in the available context.
HB 1006 creates a new statewide prohibition on cultivated meat and related food products, making their manufacture, sale, and distribution unlawful in Mississippi. It also subjects retail food establishments to existing disciplinary systems under agriculture and health law, including possible license or permit suspension or revocation, and directs state agencies to adopt implementing rules. The bill amends Section 75-35-15 to bar cultured-animal-cell products, plant-based products, and insect-based products from being labeled as meat or meat food products, affecting producers, retailers, and regulators involved in food labeling and enforcement.
The bill appears to have broad and unanimous legislative support based on the recorded votes: 116-0 in the House, 50-0 in the Senate, and 116-0 on House concurrence with the Senate amendment. No committee discussion was provided, so the available record shows consensus rather than active debate. The overall tone suggests strong agreement among lawmakers on restricting cultivated meat and tightening labeling rules for meat alternatives.
The principal policy contention implied by the bill is over whether Mississippi should allow cultivated meat products at all, and how alternative proteins may be marketed. The bill’s supporters appear to favor a categorical ban and strict labeling limits to prevent consumer confusion and protect traditional meat definitions. No explicit opposition is documented in the provided materials, and the unanimous votes indicate that any disagreement was either minimal, resolved through amendment, or not reflected in the available record.