HB659 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Spencer Collier

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Farm-raised fish and wild fish used for human consumption, labeling with country of origin, required, criminal penalties and civil fines, Secs. 22-20A-1 to 22-20A-8, inclusive, 22-20A-30 to 22-20A-32, inclusive, repealed; Act 2009-582, 2009 Reg. Sess. repealed

Summary

HB659 would require country-of-origin labeling for farm-raised and wild fish used for human consumption, establish penalties for violations, and repeal the current origin-labeling law.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would require country-of-origin labeling at the final point of sale for farm-raised and wild fish, with specific display rules for containers and menus. It creates criminal penalties and civil fines for violations and authorizes enforcement by the State Health Officer, with cooperation allowed with other agencies; district attorneys would prosecute violations. It repeals the previous origin-labeling law (Act 2009-582) and related consumer-right-to-know provisions, and it clarifies that the local-funds expenditure protections in Amendment 621 do not apply because the bill creates a new crime or amends an existing one; the act would take effect after passage, governor approval, and the specified timing.

Who It Affects

• Consumers in Alabama who buy farm-raised or wild fish, who would receive visible country-of-origin information at the point of sale.
• Businesses that handle fish (processors, distributors, retailers, and food-service establishments) and state enforcement agencies (State Health Officer and district attorneys), who must implement labeling, display requirements, and enforcement actions.

Key Provisions

• Requires country-of-origin labeling for farm-raised fish and wild fish used for human consumption, with labeling at final sale and written or graphic display on containers or wrappers; eating establishments must display the product name and origin on menus or printed materials in large print.
• Defines terms: farm-raised fish (including farm-raised shellfish and various cuts of flesh) and wild fish (wild-caught fish and shellfish); shellfish and net-pen farmed fish have specific definitions; farm-raised net-pen fish are excluded from certain definitions.
• Specifies labeling for U.S. origin: farm-raised fish must indicate it was hatched, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States; wild fish must indicate harvest happened in U.S. waters or territories/states and processed in the United States.
• Enforcement and penalties: State Health Officer will promulgate rules; violations can lead to civil fines up to $2,000 and possible criminal penalties; district attorneys prosecute violations; temporary or permanent injunctions can be issued; fines go to the Department of Public Health.
• Repeals Act 2009-582 and the related consumer-right-to-know provisions (Chapter 20A, Title 22, Code); repeals and amendments related to origin labeling are removed.
• Local-funds and funding: the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 requirements regarding local expenditures because it creates a new crime or amends a crime; the State Health Officer may set fees to cover enforcement costs; becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health Department