Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Bans distribution or sale of food containing animal cell-based product.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act banning food that contains animal cell-based product and supplementing Title 24 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act:
“Cell-based food” means any cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside of the organism from which it is derived to produce food, or ingredients for food, for human consumption.
b. No person shall distribute or sell, or have in his possession with the intent to distribute or sell, any cell-based food.
c. A person who violates this section shall be liable to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation, to be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. The municipal court and the Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999.” The Department of Health or any local health agency may institute a civil action for injunctive relief to enforce this act and to prevent a violation of its provisions, and the court may proceed in the action in a summary manner.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill bans the sale or distribution of cell-based food products in this State.
Under the bill, cell-based food is defined as any cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside of the organism from which it is derived to produce food, or ingredients for food, for human consumption.
Violators of the bill’s provisions, which include the distribution, sale, or possession with intent to distribute or sell cell-based food, are liable to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation. For a violation of a continuing nature, each day constitutes a separate and distinct offense. The bill provides for the use of the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), to the Department of Health for carrying out its provisions.