Prohibits certain actions with respect to cell cultured food products for human consumption. (8/1/26)

Senate Bill 152 creates a new Part IV within Chapter 30 of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, establishing the Cell Cultured Food Products Act, which operates as a comprehensive prohibition on cell cultured food products in Louisiana. The statute defines cell cultured food products as any cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside of the organism from which it is derived, and makes it unlawful for any person to advertise, manufacture, distribute, sell, or offer for sale such products for human consumption within the state. The prohibition applies notwithstanding any other provision of law, creating an absolute bar on these activities.

The practical effect of this legislation extends to food manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and any entity involved in the supply chain of cell cultured food products who operate in Louisiana. Violations are treated as civil infractions subject to penalties of up to five hundred dollars per violation, with each day of violation constituting a separate offense, potentially creating significant cumulative liability for ongoing violations. The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry gains enforcement authority through adjudicatory hearings, with power to assess proportionate costs of those hearings against violators and to pursue civil remedies including injunctive relief in district court.

This statute exists within the broader regulatory framework of Louisiana food safety law under Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Chapter 30, and its enforcement mechanism operates under the Administrative Procedure Act, ensuring that rule adoption and adjudicatory proceedings follow established administrative protocols. The legislation represents a state-level regulatory choice that operates independently of any federal regulatory framework and does not amend existing food safety statutes but rather adds a distinct prohibition applicable specifically to cell cultured products.