The proposed bill seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new section, 16-7-12, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of cultivated meat products within the state. It defines "cultivated meat product" and establishes penalties for violations, classifying such offenses as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 or imprisonment for up to one year. Additionally, the bill empowers the Secretary of the Department of Health to suspend the operating permits of food establishments found to be in violation of this prohibition, outlining a process for notification and hearings regarding such suspensions.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that it does not restrict research on cultivated meat products conducted by government entities or state institutions of higher education. It allows the Secretary of Health and the Commissioner of Agriculture to propose emergency rules to implement the new provisions. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will expire on July 1, 2030, thereby instituting a five-year prohibition on cultivated meat products in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-7-12