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South Dakota Senate considers lab-grown protein ban

South Dakota’s  Senate Ag Committee has advanced a bill that would make it illegal to manufacture, sell or distribute lab-grown protein in the state for 10 years.

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association is supportive of House Bill 1109. Lobbyist Jeremiah Murphy says there are unknowns, including product safety and state lawmakers can always re-address the ban in future years.

“If we do this, we say for the moment, we opt out. We’re going to opt out of this product, which isn’t even available now. If in 18 to 24 or 36 months it’s proven to be safe and not detrimental to the reputation of the product our producers are raising, we can open the door again. We can opt in.”

Cheyenne Tant with the South Dakota Ag and Natural Resources Department says USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and Food and Drug Administration has reviewed lab-grown protein and say it’s safe.

“Consumers should have the right to purchase properly labeled products that have been approved by both the FDA and USDA.”

The South Dakota Farm Bureau and South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association oppose the bill. Taya Runyon with SDCA says it’s not good policy.

“The language of this bill is taken from a similar bill in Florida that’s currently being litigated. There hasn’t been final disposition of this case and there are a host of constitutional concerns.”

Nathan Sanderson with the South Dakota Retailers Association says the government shouldn’t tell consumers what they can and can’t eat.

The ban bill is expected to be considered in the full Senate as early as Wednesday.

The committee also advanced House Bill 1118 to the full Senate, which would prohibit the use of state money to research, produce, promote or distribute cell cultured protein.