SB90 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Seafood products, country of origin, correct name, farm-raised or wild required disclosure by food service establishments

Summary

SB90 would require Alabama food service establishments to disclose the country of origin and whether seafood is farm-raised or wild, use correct common names, and allow civil penalties for noncompliance.

What This Bill Does

If passed, it would require seafood suppliers to provide country-of-origin information to food service establishments as permitted by federal law; it would require establishments to disclose country of origin, differentiate farm-raised from wild seafood, and use the correct common name in sales and advertising; it would establish a State Health Officer–run penalty system with a graduated schedule for violations and allow for safe harbor if the mislabeling came from a supplier, and it would take effect on October 1, 2024 (hospitals are exempt).

Who It Affects

• Food service establishments in Alabama must implement disclosure and labeling requirements and may face fines for violations.
• Consumers in Alabama will have the right to know the country of origin and whether seafood is farm-raised or wild when they purchase or view seafood in food service settings.

Key Provisions

• Amends Alabama Code sections 22-20A-2, 22-20A-3, 22-20A-4, and 22-20A-8 to add country-of-origin disclosures and labeling for seafood.
• Defines key terms: country of origin, farm-raised fish, wild fish, shellfish, covered commodity, food service establishment, department, State Health Officer, verified complaint, and related terms.
• Requires disclosure of country of origin for seafood products offered for sale or advertised, and to identify seafood using the correct common name as defined by the department (or FDA's listed common names if not defined).
• Requires differentiation between farm-raised and wild seafood for fish and shrimp, with disclosures provided in the same manner as origin information.
• Outlines disclosure methods: off-premises sales must have origin information on labels/placards; on-premises sales must use menu or wall placards with specified size requirements; advertisements must state origin with the same size standards.
• Mandates use of the same or appropriately sized print for all origin and naming disclosures; for some contexts, country of origin may substitute the disclaimer under certain labeling arrangements.
• Enforces the new rules through the State Health Officer, who may investigate verified complaints and impose civil penalties on a graduated scale (warning, $100, $250, $500, $1,000) within a 24-month period; penalties go to the department to support enforcement.
• Provides a safe harbor if a violation results from a good-faith reliance on a supplier's origin attestation; penalties can be appealed under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.
• Hospitals are excluded from the requirements of this article.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Consumer Protection; Health