Assigned to NREW FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1648
disclosure; agricultural vaccinations; prohibition
Purpose
Prohibits the Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) and State
Veterinarian from requiring or administering a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA vaccine) that
has not received full approval from either the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), or their successor agencies, and allows all aquaculture, livestock
or poultry products that has not received an mRNA vaccination to be labeled as such.
Background
The Director of the AZDA, with the advice of the State Veterinarian, may make rules to
control and govern the: 1) importation of animals and poultry into Arizona, establishment of
quarantine and its boundaries, notice of quarantine and accomplishment of all things necessary to
effect the object of the quarantine and to protect the livestock and poultry industries from and
prevent the spread of contagious or infectious diseases; 2) slaughter of animals and poultry affected
by contagious or infectious diseases and the disposition of carcasses of animals and poultry so
slaughtered when the action appears necessary to prevent the spread of contagion or infection
among livestock and poultry; and 3) importation, manufacture, sale, distribution or use within
Arizona of serums, vaccines and other biologics intended for diagnostic or therapeutic treatment
of animals and poultry, and the importation, manufacture or use of virulent blood or living virus
diseases affecting animals and poultry (A.R.S. § 3-1203)
Aquaculture is the controlled propagation, growth and harvest of aquatic animals or plants,
including fish, amphibians, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, algae and vascular plants. Livestock
means cattle, equine, sheep, goats and swine, except feral pigs. Poultry is any domesticated bird,
whether live or dead, and includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, ratites and squabs
(A.R.S. § 3-1201).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows all aquaculture, livestock or poultry products made from aquaculture, livestock or
poultry that has not received an mRNA vaccination to be labeled to state that the aquaculture,
livestock or poultry from which the product was made did not receive an mRNA vaccination.
2. Specifies that the label must state mRNA free in black text on an orange background and may
not be larger than one-quarter inch in height. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1648
Page 2
3. Prohibits the Director of the AZDA and State Veterinarian from requiring or administering an
mRNA vaccine that has not received full approval from either the U.S. Department of
Agriculture or the U.S. FDA, or their successor agencies.
4. Specifies that, for the purposes of the prohibition, full approval of an mRNA vaccine does not
include emergency approval.
5. Defines aquaculture, livestock and poultry.
6. Makes technical changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2024
RA/SDR/slp