New York Assembly Bill A05495

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/14/25
• Refer: 2/14/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Prohibits the sale of foods and beverages containing chlormequat, also known as 2-chloro-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium.

Summary

A05495 would amend New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law to prohibit the retail sale, offer for sale, or display for sale of any food or beverage for human consumption that contains chlormequat. The bill defines chlormequat by its chemical name, 2-chloro-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium, and applies to any person or business entity selling food or drinks at retail. The bill also creates an affirmative defense for a seller who did not know, and could not reasonably have known, that the product contained chlormequat. If enacted, the measure would take effect 180 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for any necessary implementing regulations.

Impact

The bill would add a new section 214-p to the Agriculture and Markets Law, creating a state-level retail sales ban on foods and beverages containing chlormequat. It would affect food retailers, distributors, and other businesses selling consumable products in New York by requiring them to avoid offering items with this chemical, while providing a limited defense for unknowing violations. The measure would likely require regulatory or compliance updates for product sourcing, testing, labeling, or vendor verification.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented legislative debate or recorded support/opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a consumer-safety and food-chemical restriction proposal, suggesting a precautionary approach to regulating contaminants or pesticide-related residues in the food supply.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the scope and practicality of a retail ban on a chemical that may appear as a residue or contaminant in imported or processed foods and beverages. Retailers and suppliers may be concerned about compliance burdens, product testing, and liability, while supporters would likely emphasize precautionary public health protections. The affirmative defense for sellers who lacked knowledge of the contamination may be intended to address some of those concerns, but the bill text does not include any discussion of exemptions, enforcement standards, or scientific thresholds.