The proposed bill, SB1146, amends existing Arizona agricultural law to prohibit the Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) and the State Veterinarian from requiring or administering messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines that lack full approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, it allows for labeling of aquaculture, livestock, or poultry products that did not receive an mRNA vaccination, specifying that the label must state "mRNA free" in black text on an orange background, with size restrictions on the text.
Key changes from current law include the explicit prohibition of unapproved mRNA vaccines and the requirement for labeling products from unvaccinated animals. The bill also clarifies that "full approval" does not include emergency approvals, and it defines terms such as aquaculture, livestock, and poultry. The amendments aim to enhance consumer transparency regarding vaccination status in agricultural products while ensuring that the AZDA cannot mandate the use of certain vaccines without proper authorization.
Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-302, 3-1203, 3-1201
Senate Engrossed Version: 3-302, 3-1203, 3-1201