House Bill 744

AN ACT TO REQUIRE LABELING OF BEEF OR PORK AS EITHER FARM-RAISED OR IMPORTED BEEF OR PORK; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) No beef or pork product shall be offered for direct retail sale for human consumption by a processor, distributor, wholesaler or retailer unless the beef or pork product name is specifically labeled in the following manner:

(a) "FARM-RAISED BEEF, A PRODUCT OF MISSISSIPPI" or "FARM-RAISED PORK, A PRODUCT OF MISSISSIPPI" if the product has been specifically produced on a Mississippi farm according to the usual and customary techniques of commercial agriculture; except that the appropriate state name or USA or United States of America may be inserted in lieu thereof to accommodate similar beef or pork products produced in any one of the other states of the United States of America.

(b) "IMPORTED BEEF" or "IMPORTED PORK" provided the beef or pork is produced in a country other than the United States of America.

(2) Any person selling farm-raised beef and pork directly to the consumer may have on his premises a sign reasonably visible to the consumer identifying such product as farm-raised beef or pork, rather than labeling each individual container or package of beef or pork product, as provided in this section.

(3) Any retailer selling beef or pork products not wrapped or in a container may comply with this article by placing a sign on the display case or refrigeration unit reasonably visible to the consumer, giving notice that such beef or pork is either "Farm-raised Beef" or "Farm-raised Pork" or "Imported Beef" or "Imported Pork" as such products are defined in this section.

(4) Any advertising as to any beef or pork product shall state whether such beef or pork product is "Farm-raised Beef" or "Farm-raised Pork" or "Imported Beef" or "Imported Pork" as defined in this section.

(5) This section shall not apply to beef or pork products exported out of the United States.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.