DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Woodruff HB No. 829
Abstract: Requires disclosure of any food product derived from a genetically engineered
agricultural product.
Proposed law defines "department" as the Dept. of Health and Hospitals (DHH).
Proposed law defines "food" as any food product or article of food that is consumable by a
human. The term also includes any item or substance that is intended for use as a food
ingredient.
Proposed law defines "genetic engineering" as the process of producing an organism in which
genetic material has been changed through the application of any of the following:
(1)An in vitro nucleic acid technique, which includes but is not limited to recombinant
deoxyribonucleic acid, direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles,
encapsulation, gene deletion, and doubling.
(2)A method of fusing cells beyond the taxonomic family that overcomes natural
physiological reproductive or recombinant barriers, and that does not utilize techniques
used in traditional breeding and selection such as conjugation, transduction, or
hybridization.
Proposed law defines "genetically modified food product" as a food that is composed of more
than 1% of genetically modified material.
Proposed law defines "genetically modified material" as any substance that has been produced,
enhanced, or otherwise modified through the use of genetic engineering.
Proposed law requires any person who manufactures, processes, or prepares food intended for
human consumption in this state that is a genetically modified food product or contains any
genetically engineered ingredient to provide a statement on the label or packaging on the food, or
by a sign if the food is not packaged, that the food is "produced with genetic engineering" or
"partially produced with genetic engineering".
Proposed law requires the lettering of the statement on the label, packaging, or sign to be
displayed in a conspicuous and easily legible boldface print or type that is in clear contrast to
other matter on the label, packaging, or sign. Proposed law requires any person who sells or offers for sale a food intended for human
consumption in this state that is a genetically modified food product or contains any genetically
engineered ingredient to maintain a record of each purchase from a producer, distributor,
manufacturer, processor, or packer.
Proposed law requires the records to include a bill of sale and any documents regarding the origin
of the food that is a genetically modified food product or contains any genetically engineered
ingredient, to be kept for a period of two years after the date of sale of the food, and to be made
available to DHH for inspection on request of the department.
The provisions of proposed law shall not apply to any food that is served, sold, or otherwise
provided in any restaurant or other food service establishment that is primarily engaged in the
sale of food prepared and intended for immediate human consumption.
Proposed law provides that any person violating the provisions of proposed law shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $500 and each
such violation shall constitute a separate offense.
Proposed law authorizes DHH to promulgate any administrative rules and regulations necessary
for the administration of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 40:661-666)