The proposed bill, SB1649, aims to prohibit the intentional misbranding or misrepresentation of food products that are not derived from livestock or poultry as meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry products. It outlines specific actions that constitute misbranding, such as affixing false labels, using misleading terms, and representing cell-cultured or synthetic products as traditional meat or poultry. The bill empowers the Department of Health Services to adopt enforcement rules, investigate violations, and impose civil penalties of up to $100,000 for each infraction, with each day of violation considered a separate offense.

In contrast to current law, which does not explicitly address the misbranding of non-livestock-derived products, this bill introduces clear definitions for terms like "cell-cultured food product" and "deceptively similar," and establishes a framework for enforcement and penalties. The bill also allows for the delegation of enforcement authority to county health departments and the Arizona Department of Agriculture, enhancing regulatory oversight in this area.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-917
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-917