The bill H. 5096 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding the regulation of artificial or cell-cultivated food products, specifically targeting lab-grown or cultured meat. It establishes that it is unlawful to manufacture, sell, or distribute such products within the state. The bill also includes provisions to prevent misleading labeling practices, requiring that all packaging for these products clearly indicate that they are not derived from traditional animal sources. Additionally, it specifies that violations of these regulations will be treated as separate offenses for each package.

Furthermore, the bill introduces additional penalties for violations, including potential imprisonment, fines, and the revocation or suspension of business licenses for establishments that do not comply. The Department of Agriculture is granted the authority to promulgate regulations to enforce these provisions and can issue stop-sale or stop-use orders on non-compliant products. The bill is currently under consideration in the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs.