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South Dakota enacts 5-year ban on cell-cultured protein

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed a bill into law that temporarily bans cell-cultured protein products in South Dakota.

The ban goes into effect on July 1 and expires at the end of five years, in June 2031. The law says cell-cultured protein cannot be sold, held for sale, distributed or manufactured in South Dakota. If that happens, it would be a misdemeanor offense.

Rhoden says it’s a compromise on an issue that had some in the state’s livestock industry split earlier this year, offering protections for traditional meat producers while allowing limited, non-meat uses and an expiration instead of an indefinite ban.

The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association tells Brownfield “the short-term pause instead of a permanent ban alleveated concerns about market retaliation for traditional ag products and costly litigation because it was temporary. While cell cultured protein products aren’t something we as an industry promote, we recognize they are approved and inspected by the Food and Drug Administration and USDA, and we have confidence in the food safety system that consumers across the country and around the world rely on when choosing U.S. beef…nothing compares to real beef, pork and poultry.”

Earlier in the session, Rhoden vetoed a bill that would ban cell-cultured protein in the state permanently, and as a solution, suggested amendments to Senate Bill 124. 

The South Dakota legislative session is scheduled to wrap up at the end of March.