First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 25-0830.01 Richard Sweetman x4333
HOUSE BILL 25-1203
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING CELL -CULTIVATED MEAT , AND, IN CONNECTION101
THEREWITH , PROHIBITING THE MISBRANDING OF102
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT AS A MEAT PRODUCT AND REQUIRING103
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT TO BE CLEARLY LABELED AS104
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT.105
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill prohibits food processing plants from selling or offering
for sale cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as a meat product. The bill
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 10, 2025
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 7, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Winter T. and McCormick, Bacon, Brooks, Brown, Caldwell, Duran, English, Garcia
Sander, Gonzalez R., Hartsook, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lukens, Martinez,
McCluskie, Richardson, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Taggart, Titone, Weinberg, Woog, Zokaie
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Pelton R. and Mullica,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. also requires food processing plants to clearly label cell-cultivated meat
as cell-cultivated meat.
The department of public health and environment (department) is
required to inspect food at a food processing plant if the department has
reasonable cause to believe that:
! Cell-cultivated meat sold or offered for sale by the plant is
misbranded as a meat product; or
! The plant is failing to label cell-cultivated meat as required.
If, after an inspection, the department has reasonable cause to
believe that a food processing plant is selling or offering for sale
cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as a meat product, or is failing to
label cell-cultivated meat as required, the department may issue a stop
order. Upon being issued the stop order, the food processing plant shall
not sell the product or offer it for sale until the department determines
whether it is misbranded or unlabeled in violation of the bill.
If the department determines that a food processing plant is selling
or offering for sale cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as a meat
product, or is failing to label cell-cultivated meat as required, the
department may issue an embargo order requiring the food processing
plant to dispose of the cell-cultivated meat by means other than by sale to
purchasers in Colorado.
The department, the attorney general, or the district attorney in the
district where cell-cultivated meat is being offered for sale or sold may
petition the district court to enforce a stop order or an embargo order.
The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement the bill.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds that:3
(a) For generations, Colorado stock growers have raised4
high-quality meat products that feed families across the state and the5
nation;6
(b) Livestock production is not just an industry in Colorado; it is7
a proud tradition woven into the very fabric of the state's history; and8
(c) Agriculture remains the lifeblood of rural Colorado, driving9
local economies while preserving a rich heritage that rural Coloradans10
embrace with pride.11
1203-2- (2) Now, therefore, the general assembly declares that a labeling1
requirement on the sale or distribution of cell-cultivated meat in the state2
is necessary to eliminate any potential for deceptive trade practices and3
preserve the free market choice that all Colorado consumers deserve4
when it comes to their protein options.5
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-5-411, amend (1)6
introductory portion; and add (1)(q) and (1)(r) as follows:7
25-5-411. Definitions of "misbranding". (1) A food shall be IS8
deemed to be misbranded:9
(q) I
F THE FOOD IS CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT OR CONTAINS10
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT AND IS MISBRANDED AS A MEAT PRODUCT IN11
VIOLATION OF SECTION 25-5-428; OR12
(r) I
F THE FOOD IS CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT OR CONTAINS13
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT AND IS NOT CLEARLY LABELED AS14
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 25-5-428.15
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 25-5-428 as16
follows:17
25-5-428. Misbranding of cell-cultivated meat as meat product18
prohibited - labeling of cell-cultivated meat required - definitions -19
inspections - stop orders - embargo orders - enforcement - rules.20
(1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE21
REQUIRES:22
(a) "A
GRICULTURAL FOOD ANIMAL " MEANS:23
(I) A
DOMESTICATED ANIMAL BELONGING TO THE BOVINE ,24
CAPRINE, OVINE, OR PORCINE SPECIES; OR25
(II) A
LIVE DOMESTIC CHICKEN OR TURKEY.26
(b) "C
ELL-CULTIVATED MEAT" MEANS FOOD HAVING ONE OR MORE27
1203
-3- SENSORY ATTRIBUTES THAT RESEMBLES A TYPE OF TISSUE ORIGINATING1
FROM AN AGRICULTURAL FOOD ANIMAL BUT THAT , IN LIEU OF BEING2
DERIVED FROM MEAT PROCESSING , IS DERIVED FROM MANUFACTURING3
CELLS, IN WHICH ONE OR MORE STEM CELLS ARE INITIALLY ISOLATED FROM4
AN AGRICULTURAL FOOD ANIMAL , ARE GROWN IN VITRO, AND MAY BE5
MANIPULATED AS PART OF A MANUFACTURING OPERATION .6
(c) "F
OOD PROCESSING PLANT" MEANS A COMMERCIAL OPERATION7
THAT MANUFACTURES , PACKAGES, LABELS, OR STORES FOOD FOR HUMAN8
CONSUMPTION AND DOES NOT PROVIDE FOOD DIRECTLY TO A CONSUMER .9
(d) "I
DENTIFYING MEAT TERM" MEANS ANY WORD OR PHRASE THAT10
STATES, INDICATES, SUGGESTS, OR DESCRIBES A MEAT PRODUCT ,11
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE WORD OR PHRASE IS USED INDIVIDUALLY ,12
AS A PORTMANTEAU, OR AS A COMPOUND WORD . "IDENTIFYING MEAT13
TERM" INCLUDES:14
(I) A
COMMON NAME FOR THE SPECIES OF THE AGRICULTURAL15
FOOD ANIMAL SUBJECT TO SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING , INCLUDING A16
CALF OR COW, CHICKEN, GOAT OR KID, HOG OR PIG, POULTRY, LAMB OR17
SHEEP, OR TURKEY;18
(II) A
COMMON NAME FOR A CHARACTERISTIC OF A SPECIES OF THE19
AGRICULTURAL FOOD ANIMAL SUBJECT TO SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING20
BASED ON AGE, BREED, OR SEX;21
(III) B
EEF OR VEAL; BROILER, FRYER, POULET, OR YEARLING;22
CABRITO OR CHEVON; LAMB OR MUTTON; OR PORK;23
(IV) A
COMMON NAME USED TO DESCRIBE A MAJOR CUT OF THE24
MEAT OF AN AGRICULTURAL FOOD ANIMAL SLAUGHTERED AND25
PROCESSED, INCLUDING A MAJOR MEAT CUT SPECIFIED IN 9 CFR 317.344;26
(V) A
POULTRY PRODUCT SUCH AS BREAST , DRUMSTICK, GIBLET,27
1203
-4- THIGH, OR WING;1
(VI) T
HE COMMON NAME OF AN ORGAN OR OFFAL , INCLUDING2
GIZZARD, HEART, LIVER, KIDNEY, OR TONGUE; AND3
(VII) A
NY OTHER COMMON NAME THAT A REASONABLE4
PURCHASER WOULD IMMEDIATELY AND EXCLUSIVELY ASSOCIATE WITH A5
MEAT PRODUCT PREPARED FOR SALE IN NORMAL COMMERCIAL CHANNELS ,6
SUCH AS BACON, BALONEY, BOLOGNA, BONE, BRAT OR BRATWURST ,7
BRISKET, BURGER OR HAMBURGER , BUTT, CHOP, CHUCK, COLD CUT,8
CUTLET, FILET, FLAT IRON, FRANK OR FRANKFURTER , HAM, HOCK, HOT9
DOG, JERKY, LIVERWURST, LOIN, LONDON BROIL, LUNCH MEAT, NEW YORK10
STRIP, PEPPERONI, PORTERHOUSE, RIBEYE, ROAST, RIB OR SPARERIB,11
SALAMI, SAUSAGE, SHANK, SIRLOIN, TENDERLOIN, OR A COMPARABLE12
WORD OR PHRASE THE DEPARTMENT ADOPTS BY RULE .13
(e) "M
EAT PROCESSING" MEANS THE HANDLING, PREPARATION,14
AND SLAUGHTER OF AN AGRICULTURAL FOOD ANIMAL ; THE DRESSING OF15
ITS CARCASS; OR THE CUTTING, STORAGE, AND PACKAGING OF ITS TISSUE16
OR OTHER PARTS AS FOOD.17
(f) "M
EAT PRODUCT" MEANS FOOD DERIVED FROM MEAT18
PROCESSING.19
(g) (I) "M
ISBRANDED AS A MEAT PRODUCT " MEANS THAT20
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT OR A FOOD CONTAINING CELL -CULTIVATED MEAT:21
(A) I
S SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE BY A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT ;22
AND23
(B) B
EARS A LABEL THAT INCLUDES AN IDENTIFYING MEAT TERM .24
(II) N
OTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (1)(g)(I) OF THIS SECTION,25
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT OR A FOOD CONTAINING CELL -CULTIVATED MEAT26
IS NOT MISBRANDED AS A MEAT PRODUCT IF :27
1203
-5- (A) THE LABEL INCLUDES A CONSPICUOUS AND PROMINENT1
QUALIFYING TERM IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE IDENTIFYING MEAT TERM ;2
OR3
(B) T
HE PRODUCT CONTAINS NO MORE THAN A TRACE AMOUNT OF4
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT .5
(h) "Q
UALIFYING TERM" MEANS A WORD, COMPOUND WORD, OR6
PHRASE THAT WOULD CLEARLY DISCLOSE TO A REASONABLE PURCHASER7
OF MEAT PRODUCTS FROM A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT THAT A FOOD IS NOT8
A MEAT PRODUCT. "QUALIFYING TERM" INCLUDES "CELL-CULTIVATED",9
"
CELL-CULTURED",
"GROWN IN A LAB", "IMITATION", "LAB-CREATED",10
"
LAB-GROWN", "MEAT FREE", "MEATLESS", AND A COMPARABLE WORD OR11
PHRASE ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT BY RULE .12
(2) A
FOOD PROCESSING PLANT SHALL NOT SELL OR OFFER FOR13
SALE CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT THAT IS MISBRANDED AS A MEAT PRODUCT .14
(3) A
FOOD PROCESSING PLANT THAT SELLS OR OFFERS FOR SALE15
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT SHALL ENSURE THAT EACH UNIT OF THE16
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT BEARS A LABEL THAT DESCRIBES THE PRODUCT17
AS "CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT" IN CLEAR, LEGIBLE TYPE.18
(4) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL INSPECT AN INVENTORY OF FOOD19
OFFERED FOR SALE OR SOLD AT A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT PURSUANT TO20
SECTION 25-5-421 IF THE DEPARTMENT HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO21
BELIEVE THAT:22
(a) C
ELL-CULTIVATED MEAT SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE BY THE23
FOOD PROCESSING PLANT IS MISBRANDED AS A MEAT PRODUCT ; OR24
(b) T
HE FOOD PROCESSING PLANT IS FAILING TO LABEL25
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT AS REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS26
SECTION.27
1203
-6- (5) (a) IF, AFTER AN INSPECTION , THE DEPARTMENT HAS1
REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT IS2
SELLING OR OFFERING FOR SALE CELL -CULTIVATED MEAT THAT IS3
MISBRANDED AS A MEAT PRODUCT , OR IS FAILING TO LABEL4
CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT AS CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT, THE DEPARTMENT5
MAY ISSUE A STOP ORDER. AFTER RECEIVING THE STOP ORDER, THE FOOD6
PROCESSING PLANT SHALL NOT SELL THE PRODUCT OR OFFER IT FOR SALE7
UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES WHETHER THE F OOD IS MISBRANDED8
AS A MEAT PRODUCT OR IMPROPERLY UNLABELED . THE DEPARMENT MAY9
REQUIRE THE FOOD PROCESSING PLANT TO HOLD THE PR ODUCT AND10
SECURE IT FROM PURCHASE.11
(b) I
F THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT CELL -CULTIVATED12
MEAT SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE BY A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT IS13
MISBRANDED AS A MEAT PRODUCT , OR THAT A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT14
HAS FAILED TO LABEL CELL -CULTIVATED MEAT AS REQUIRED BY15
SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT MAY ISSUE AN16
EMBARGO ORDER REQUIRING THE FOOD PROCESSING PLANT TO DISPOSE OF17
THE CELL-CULTIVATED MEAT BY MEANS OTHER THAN BY SALE TO18
PURCHASERS IN COLORADO.19
(c) T
HE DEPARTMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OR THE DISTRICT20
ATTORNEY IN THE DISTRICT WHERE CELL -CULTIVATED MEAT IS BEING21
OFFERED FOR SALE OR SOLD MAY PETITION THE DISTRICT COURT TO22
ENFORCE A STOP ORDER ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS23
SECTION OR AN EMBARGO ORDER ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5)(b)24
OF THIS SECTION.25
(6) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT RULES AS NECESSARY TO26
IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.27
1203
-7- SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date -1
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following2
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the3
general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant4
to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an5
item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item,6
section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the7
general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take8
effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the9
governor.10
(2) This act applies to food labeled or packaged on or after the11
applicable effective date of this act.12
1203
-8-