The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Amanda Trapp.
DIGEST
SB 166 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Connick
Proposed law prohibits potentially misleading packaging and marketing of seafood products as
Louisiana products.
Proposed law requires the commissioner of agriculture to ensure compliance and issue fines for
violation of proposed law.
Present law requires all state agencies, state institutions, and local school districts that operate food
service facilities for students, patients, or inmates to only utilize meat, poultry, and seafood products
that have met all Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry requirements for grading and
certification.
Proposed law adds that those entities only utilize domestic shrimp or domestic crawfish as defined
in proposed law.
Present law establishes a Chinese seafood warning label program.
Proposed law modernizes the warning label program to include all imported seafood.
Proposed law provides definition for "domestic shrimp" and "domestic crawfish".
Present law requires food service establishments that sell or provide cooked or prepared crawfish
or shrimp that originate outside of the United States to notify patrons that the seafood is imported
or to provide the country of origin for seafood. Present law requires the Louisiana Department of
Health to ensure compliance with present law.
Present law prohibits an owner or manager of a restaurant that sells imported crawfish or shrimp
from misrepresenting to the public, either verbally, on a menu, or on signs displayed on the premises,
that the crawfish or shrimp is domestic. Present law requires the district attorney of the district where
the restaurant is located to have jurisdiction over violations.
Proposed law combines the present law provisions and grants enforcement authority of both
provisions to the Louisiana Department of Health and increases fines issued by the department.
Proposed law changes the notification requirement to require a disclaimer that imported crawfish or
shrimp may be sold at the establishment to be printed on a menu or placed on a sign displayed at the
front of the establishment.
Proposed law provides additional notification requirements for food establishments that sell unpackaged crawfish or shrimp.
Proposed law requires the Louisiana Department of Health to establish a reporting mechanism for
members of the public to report suspected violations and provides for limitations on liability for
individuals who report.
Proposed law repeals provisions in the Sanitary Code relative to Chinese seafood.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 39:2101 and R.S. 40:5.5.2 and 5.5.4; adds R.S. 3:4706; repeals R.S. 40:4(A)(1)(b) and
R.S. 56:578.14)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill
1. Changes requirements for certain seafood products that are labeled or marketed in
association with Louisiana's culture and heritage.
2. Provides for the powers of the commissioner of agriculture in regulating the products.
3. Changes notification requirements for food service establishments that serve
imported crawfish or shrimp.
4. Adds discretion of the Louisiana Department of Health in assessing fines for first
offense violations of the notification requirements.
5. Makes technical changes.