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HB401 • 2025

Prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Montana

Prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Montana

Agriculture
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Braxton Mitchell
Last action
2025-05-05
Official status
Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Montana

Prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Montana

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Montana

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment - 1st Reading-white - Requested by: Braxton Mitchell - (H) Agriculture - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Laura Sherley, HB0401.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 401 1 HOUSE BILL NO.

  • Amendment - 1st Reading-white - Requested by: Braxton Mitchell - (H) Agriculture - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Laura Sherley, HB0401.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 401 1 HOUSE BILL NO.
  • 401 2 INTRODUCED BY B.
  • MITCHELL, V.
  • RICCI, W.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-05 HOUSE

    Chapter Number Assigned

  2. 2025-05-01 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Governor

  3. 2025-04-25 SENATE

    (S) Signed by President

  4. 2025-04-25 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Governor

  5. 2025-04-23 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Speaker

  6. 2025-04-15 HOUSE

    (H) Returned from Enrolling

  7. 2025-04-14 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  8. 2025-04-14 SENATE

    (S) 3rd Reading Concurred

  9. 2025-04-14 HOUSE

    (H) Sent to Enrolling

  10. 2025-04-12 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  11. 2025-04-12 SENATE

    (S) 2nd Reading Concurred

  12. 2025-04-02 SENATE

    (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred

  13. 2025-04-01 SENATE

    (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

  14. 2025-03-27 SENATE

    (S) Hearing

  15. 2025-03-14 SENATE

    (S) First Reading

  16. 2025-03-14 SENATE

    (S) Referred to Committee

  17. 2025-03-06 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  18. 2025-03-06 HOUSE

    (H) 3rd Reading Passed

  19. 2025-03-06 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Senate

  20. 2025-03-04 HOUSE

    (H) Revised Fiscal Note Printed

  21. 2025-03-04 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  22. 2025-03-04 HOUSE

    (H) 2nd Reading Passed

  23. 2025-03-03 HOUSE

    (H) Revised Fiscal Note Signed

  24. 2025-02-27 HOUSE

    (H) Revised Fiscal Note Requested

  25. 2025-02-26 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Received

  26. 2025-02-26 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Unsigned

  27. 2025-02-26 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Printed

  28. 2025-02-26 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

  29. 2025-02-25 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

  30. 2025-02-06 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  31. 2025-02-06 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  32. 2025-02-06 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  33. 2025-02-05 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  34. 2025-02-05 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Requested

  35. 2025-02-04 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  36. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  37. 2025-01-07 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  38. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  39. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  40. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  41. 2025-01-05 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  42. 2024-12-31 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

  43. 2024-12-30 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  44. 2024-12-30 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  45. 2024-12-20 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  46. 2024-12-10 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  47. 2024-11-12 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Prohibit the sale of lab-grown meat in the state of Montana

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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AN ACT PROHIBITING THE MANUFACTURE FOR SALE, SALE, HOLDING OR OFFERING FOR SALE, OR
DISTRIBUTION OF CELL-CULTURED EDIBLE PRODUCT; PROVIDING PENALTIES; PROVIDING
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 50-31-103, 50-31-
203, 50-31-501, AND 81-9-217, MCA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Cell-cultured edible product -- prohibition -- rulemaking authority -- definition. (1) It
is unlawful for a person to manufacture for sale, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute cell-cultured edible
product in this state.
(2) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.
(3) As used in [section 2] and this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Cell-cultured edible product" has the same meaning as provided in 50-31-103.
(b) "Retail food establishment" has the same meaning as provided in 50-50-102.
Section 2. Penalty -- violation -- stop sale. (1) A person who knowingly violates [section 1] commits
a misdemeanor and is subject to the provisions of 50-31-506.
(2) A retail food establishment that manufactures for sale, sells, holds or offers for sale, or
distributes cell-cultured edible product as defined in [section 1] is found in violation of [section 1] and is subject
to disciplinary action pursuant to 50-50-107 through 50-50-109.
(3) In addition to the penalties provided in this section, the license of a restaurant, store, or other
business may be suspended as provided in the applicable licensing law on the conviction of an owner or
employee of that business for a violation of [section 1] in connection with that business.
(4) A product found to be in violation of [section 1] is subject to the provisions of this chapter and
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an immediate stop sale order.
Section 3. Section 50-31-103, MCA, is amended to read:
"50-31-103. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in this chapter, the following
definitions apply:
(1) "Advertisement" means representations disseminated in any manner or by any means, other
than by labeling, for the purpose of inducing or that are likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase of
food, drugs, devices, or cosmetics.
(2) "Beef patty mix" means "hamburger" or "ground beef" to which have been added binders or
extenders as those terms are understood by general custom and usage in the food industry.
(3) "Bottled water" means water that is intended for human consumption and that is sealed in
bottles or other containers with no added ingredients, except that bottled water may optionally contain safe and
suitable antimicrobial agents.
(4) "Cell-cultured edible product" means the concept of meat, including but not limited to muscle
cells, fat cells, connective tissue, blood, and other components produced via cell culture, rather than from a
whole slaughtered animal. A cell-cultured edible product derived from meat muscle cells, fat cells, connective
tissue, blood, or other meat components must contain labeling indicating it is derived from those cells, tissues,
blood, or components.
(5) "Color" includes black, white, and intermediate grays.
(6) (a) "Color additive" means a material that:
(i) is a dye, pigment, or other substance made by a process of synthesis or similar artifice or that
is extracted, isolated, or otherwise derived, with or without intermediate or final change of identity, from a
vegetable, animal, mineral, or other source; or
(ii) when added or applied to a food, drug, or cosmetic or to the human body is capable (alone or
through reaction with another substance) of imparting color to the human body.
(b) The term does not include material that has been or is exempted under the federal act.
(7) (a) "Consumer commodity", except as otherwise specifically provided by this subsection,
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means any food, drug, device, or cosmetic as those terms are defined by this chapter or by the federal act and
regulations pursuant to the federal act.
(b) The term does not include:
(i) any tobacco or tobacco product;
(ii) a commodity subject to packaging or labeling requirements imposed under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.) or the provisions of the eighth paragraph
under the heading "Bureau of Animal Industry" of the act of March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 832-833; 21 U.S.C. 151
through 157), commonly known as the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act;
(iii) a drug subject to 50-31-306(1)(m) or 50-31-307(2)(c) or section 503(b)(1) or 506 of the federal
act (21 U.S.C. 353(b)(1) and 356);
(iv) a beverage subject to or complying with packaging or labeling requirements imposed under the
Federal Alcohol Administration Act (27 U.S.C. 201, et seq.); or
(v) a commodity subject to the Federal Seed Act (7 U.S.C. 1551 through 1610).
(8) "Contaminated with filth" applies to a food, drug, device, or cosmetic not securely protected
from dust, dirt, and, as far as may be necessary by all reasonable means, foreign, or injurious contaminations.
(9) (a) "Cosmetic" means:
(i) articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise
applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance; and
(ii) articles intended for use as a component of these articles.
(b) The term does not include soap.
(10) "Counterfeit drug" means a drug, drug container, or drug label that, without authorization, bears
the trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark, imprint, or device or any likeness of an identifying mark,
imprint, or device of a drug manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor other than the person who in fact
manufactured, processed, packed, or distributed the drug and that falsely purports or is represented to be the
product of or to have been packed or distributed by the other drug manufacturer, processor, packer, or
distributor.
(11) "Department" means the department of public health and human services provided for in 2-15-
2201.
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(12) "Device" (except when used in 50-31-107(2), 50-31-203(6), 50-31-306(1)(c) and (1)(q), 50-31-
402(3), and 50-31-501(10)(11)) means instruments, apparatus, and contrivances, including their components,
parts, and accessories, intended:
(a) for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or
other animals; or
(b) to affect the structure or function of the body of humans or other animals.
(13) "Dietary supplement" means a product, other than a tobacco product, that is intended to
supplement the diet and that:
(a) is advertised only as a food supplement;
(b) bears or contains one or more of the following ingredients:
(i) a vitamin;
(ii) a mineral;
(iii) an herb or other botanical substance;
(iv) an amino acid;
(v) a dietary substance used to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake or a
concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any ingredients described in subsections
(13)(b)(i) through (13)(b)(iv);
(c) conforms to any additional provisions for the definition of dietary supplement under 21 U.S.C.
321.
(14) "Drug" means:
(a) articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official National Formulary, or a
supplement to either of these;
(b) articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
in humans or other animals;
(c) articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or function of the body of humans or
other animals;
(d) articles intended for use as components of any article specified in subsection (14)(a), (14)(b),
or (14)(c) but does not include devices or their components, parts, or accessories.
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(15) "Federal act" means the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended (21 U.S.C. 301,
et seq.).
(16) "Food" means:
(a) articles used for food or drink for humans or other animals;
(b) chewing gum;
(c) articles used for components of these articles; and
(d) dietary supplements.
(17) (a) "Food additive" means a substance, the intended use of which results or may be reasonably
expected to result, directly or indirectly, in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics
of food. The term includes a substance intended for use in producing, manufacturing, packing, processing,
preparing, treating, packaging, transporting, or holding food and a source of radiation intended for this use if the
substance is not generally recognized among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate
its safety as having been adequately shown through scientific procedures to be safe under the conditions of its
intended use. Alternatively, for a substance used in a food prior to January 1, 1958, the determination of safety
under the conditions of the substance's intended use may be through either scientific procedures or experience
based on common use in food.
(b) The term does not include:
(i) a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity;
(ii) a pesticide chemical to the extent that the pesticide chemical is intended for use or is used in
the production, storage, or transportation of a raw agricultural commodity;
(iii) a color additive;
(iv) a substance used in accordance with a sanction or approval granted prior to the enactment of
the Food Additives Amendment of 1958, pursuant to the federal act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21
U.S.C. 451, et seq.), or the Meat Inspection Act of March 4, 1907 (34 Stat. 1260), as amended and extended
(21 U.S.C. 603, et seq.).
(18) "Food service establishment" means a retail food establishment defined in 50-50-102 and any
facility operated by a governmental entity where food is served.
(19) "Hamburger" or "ground beef" means ground fresh or frozen beef or a combination of both
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fresh and frozen beef, with or without the addition of suet, to which no water, binders, or extenders are added.
The term includes only products entirely derived from the edible flesh of livestock or a livestock product, as
meat is defined in 81-9-217. The term does not include cell-cultured edible products. There are four grades of
hamburger or ground beef:
(a) "regular hamburger" or "regular ground beef" may have:
(i) a fat content no greater than the federal standard set forth in 9 CFR 319.15; and
(ii) a lean content of no less than 70%;
(b) "lean hamburger" or "lean ground beef" may have:
(i) a fat content no greater than 22%; and
(ii) a lean content of no less than 78%;
(c) "extra lean hamburger" or "extra lean ground beef" may have:
(i) a fat content no greater than 16%; and
(ii) a lean content of no less than 84%; and
(d) "super lean hamburger" or "super lean ground beef" may have:
(i) a fat content no greater than 12%; and
(ii) a lean content of no less than 88%.
(20) "Honey" means the nectar and saccharine plant exudations, gathered, modified, and stored in
the comb by honey bees, that are levorotatory and that contain not more than 25% of water, not more than
0.25% of ash, and not more than 8% sucrose.
(21) "Label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter on the immediate container of an
article. "Immediate container" does not include package liners.
(22) "Labeling" means labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter:
(a) on an article or its containers or wrappers;
(b) accompanying the article.
(23) "Menu" means a list presented to the patron that states the food items for sale in a food service
establishment.
(24) "New drug" means a drug, the composition of which:
(a) is not generally recognized among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to
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evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs as safe and effective for use under the conditions prescribed,
recommended, or suggested in the new drug's labeling; or
(b) has become recognized as a result of investigations to determine the new drug's safety and
effectiveness for use under the conditions prescribed but has not, other than in the investigations, been used to
a material extent or for a material time under the conditions prescribed.
(25) "Official compendium" means the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official National
Formulary, or a supplement to either of these.
(26) (a) "Package" means a container or wrapping in which a consumer commodity is enclosed for
use in the delivery or display of that consumer commodity to retail purchasers.
(b) The term does not include:
(i) shipping containers or wrappings used solely for the transportation of a consumer commodity in
bulk or in quantity to manufacturers, packers, or processors or to wholesale or retail distributors;
(ii) shipping containers or outer wrappings used by retailers to ship or deliver a commodity to retail
customers if the containers and wrappings bear no printed matter pertaining to a particular commodity.
(27) "Person" includes an individual, partnership, corporation, and association.
(28) "Pesticide chemical" means a substance that alone, in chemical combination, or in formulation
with one or more other substances is an "economic poison" under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.), as amended, and that is used in the production, storage, or
transportation of raw agricultural commodities.
(29) "Placard" means a nonpermanent sign used to display or describe food items for sale in a food
service establishment or retail meat establishment.
(30) "Principal display panel" means that part of a label that is most likely to be displayed,
presented, shown, or examined under normal and customary conditions of display for retail sale.
(31) "Processing" means cooking, baking, heating, drying, mixing, grinding, churning, separating,
extracting, cutting, freezing, or otherwise manufacturing a food or changing the physical characteristics of a
food and the enclosure of the food in a package.
(32) "Raw agricultural commodity" has the meaning as provided in 50-50-102.
(33) "Retail meat establishment" means a commercial establishment at which meat or meat
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products are displayed for sale or provision to the public, with or without charge.
(34) "Synthetically compounded" means a product formulated by a process that chemically changes
a material or substance extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral sources, except for
microbiological processes."
Section 4. Section 50-31-203, MCA, is amended to read:
"50-31-203. When food misbranded. A food is considered to be misbranded if:
(1) its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;
(2) it is offered for sale under the name of another food;
(3) it is an imitation of another food for which a definition and standard of identity has been
prescribed by regulations as provided by 50-31-201 or if it is an imitation of another food that is not subject to
subsection (7) of this section, unless its label bears in type of uniform size and prominence the word imitation
and, immediately after that word, the name of the food imitated;
(4) its container is made, formed, or filled in a manner that is misleading;
(5) it is in package form, unless it bears a label containing:
(a) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor;
(b) an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical
count; provided that reasonable variations must be permitted and exemptions as to small packages must be
established by regulations prescribed by the department;
(6) any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to
appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed on the label or labeling with such conspicuousness (as
compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling) and in terms that render it likely to
be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;
(7) it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity have
been prescribed by regulations as provided by 50-31-201, unless:
(a) it conforms to that definition and standard; and
(b) its label bears the name of the food specified in the definition and standard and, as may be
required by the regulations, the common names of optional ingredients (other than spices, flavoring, and
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coloring) present in the food;
(8) it purports to be or is represented as:
(a) a food for which a standard of quality has been prescribed by regulations as provided by 50-31-
201 and its quality falls below that standard, unless its label bears, in a manner and form that the regulations
specify, a statement that it falls below that standard; or
(b) a food for which a standard or standards of fill of container have been prescribed by regulation
as provided by 50-31-201 and it falls below the standard of fill of container applicable, unless its label bears, in
a manner and form that the regulations specify, a statement that it falls below that standard;
(9) it is not subject to the provisions of subsection (7) unless it bears labeling clearly giving:
(a) the common or usual name of the food, if there is one; and
(b) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each
ingredient; except that spices, flavorings, and colorings, other than those sold as such, may be designated as
spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each. To the extent that compliance with the requirements of
this subsection (9)(b) is impractical or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions must be
established by regulations promulgated by the department. The requirements of this subsection (9)(b) do not
apply to food products that are packaged at the direction of purchasers at retail at the time of sale, the
ingredients of which are disclosed to the purchasers by other means in accordance with regulations
promulgated by the department.
(10) it purports to be or is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears information
concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties that the department determines to be and by
regulations prescribes as necessary in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for special dietary uses;
(11) it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative unless it
bears labeling stating that fact. To the extent that compliance with the requirements of this subsection is
impracticable, exemptions must be established by regulations promulgated by the department. Butter, cheese,
ice cream, and frozen desserts as described in 81-22-101 are exempt from label statements for artificial
flavoring and artificial coloring.
(12) it is a product intended as an ingredient of another food and when used according to the
directions of the purveyor will result in the final food product being adulterated or misbranded;
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(13) it is a color additive, unless its packaging and labeling are in conformity with packaging and
labeling requirements applicable to that color additive prescribed under the provisions of the federal act;
(14) it is a cell-cultured edible product labeled as meat but does not meet the definition of meat in
81-9-217. A cell-cultured edible product derived from meat muscle cells, fat cells, connective tissue, blood, or
other meat components is not considered to be misbranded if it is labeled in accordance with 50-31-103 to
indicate it is derived from those cells, tissues, blood, or components."
Section 5. Section 50-31-501, MCA, is amended to read:
"50-31-501. Prohibited acts. The following acts and the causing of the acts within the state of
Montana are prohibited:
(1) the manufacture, sale or delivery, holding, or offering for sale of any food, drug, device, or
cosmetic that is adulterated or misbranded;
(2) the adulteration or misbranding of any food, drug, device, or cosmetic;
(3) the receipt in commerce of any food, drug, device, or cosmetic that is adulterated or
misbranded and the delivery or proffered delivery of any food, drug, device, or cosmetic for pay or otherwise;
(4) the sale, delivery for sale, holding for sale, or offering for sale of any article in violation of 50-
31-311;
(5) the dissemination of any false advertisement;
(6) the manufacture, sale or delivery, holding, or offering for sale of cell-cultured edible product
pursuant to [section 1];
(6)(7) the refusal to permit entry or inspection or to permit the taking of a sample, as authorized by
50-31-106;
(7)(8) the giving of a guaranty or undertaking if the guaranty or undertaking is false, except by a
person who relied on a guaranty or undertaking signed by and containing the name and address of a person
residing in the state of Montana and from whom the person received in good faith the food, drug, device, or
cosmetic;
(8)(9) the removal or disposal of a detained or embargoed article in violation of 50-31-509;
(9)(10) the alteration, mutilation, destruction, obliteration, or commission of any other act with respect
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to a food, drug, device, or cosmetic or the removal, in whole or in part, of the labeling of a food, drug, device, or
cosmetic if the act is done while the article is held for sale and results in the article being adulterated or
misbranded;
(10)(11)forging, counterfeiting, simulating, or falsely representing or, without proper authority, using any
mark, stamp, tag, label, or other identification device authorized or required by regulations promulgated under
the provisions of this chapter or federal act;
(11)(12)using on the labeling of any drug or in any advertisement relating to the drug any
representation or suggestion that an application with respect to the drug is effective under 50-31-311 or that the
drug complies with the provisions of 50-31-311;
(12)(13)in the case of a prescription drug distributed or offered for sale in this state, the failure of the
manufacturer, packer, or distributor to maintain for transmittal or to transmit to any practitioner, licensed by
applicable law to administer the drug and who makes written request for information as to the drug, true and
correct copies of all printed matter that is required to be included in any package in which that drug is
distributed or sold or other printed matter as is approved under the federal act. This subsection does not
exempt any person from any labeling requirement imposed by or under other provisions of this chapter.
(13)(14)placing or causing to be placed upon any drug, device, or container of a drug or device, with
intent to defraud, the trade name, other identifying mark, or imprint of another or any likeness of the name,
mark, or imprint;
(14)(15)selling, dispensing, disposing of, or causing to be sold, dispensed, or disposed of or concealing
or keeping in possession, control, or custody, with intent to sell, dispense, or dispose of, any drug, device, or
any container of the drug or device with knowledge that the trade name, other identifying mark, or imprint of
another or any likeness of any of the foregoing has been placed on the drug, device, or container in a manner
prohibited by subsection (13) (14);
(15)(16)making, selling, disposing of, or causing to be made, sold, or disposed of or keeping in
possession, control, or custody or concealing, with intent to defraud, any punch, die, plate, or other thing
designed to print, imprint, or reproduce a trade name, other identifying mark, or imprint of another or any
likeness of the name, mark, or imprint upon any drug, device, or container of the drug or device;
(16)(17)the using by any person to the person's own advantage or revealing, other than to officers or
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employees of the department or the courts when relevant in any judicial proceeding under this chapter, any
information acquired under authority of this chapter concerning any method or process that as a trade secret is
entitled to protection;
(17)(18)the distribution in commerce of a consumer commodity if the commodity is contained in a
package or if there is affixed to that commodity a label that does not conform to the provisions of this chapter
and of regulations promulgated under authority of this chapter. This prohibition does not apply to persons
engaged in business as wholesale or retail distributors of consumer commodities except to the extent that the
persons:
(a) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of the commodities; or
(b) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which the commodities are packaged or
labeled.
(18)(19)the labeling or packaging of a food, drug, device, or cosmetic that fails to conform with the
requirements of this chapter."
Section 6. Section 81-9-217, MCA, is amended to read:
"81-9-217. Definitions. As used in 81-9-216 through 81-9-220 and 81-9-226 through 81-9-236, the
following definitions apply:
(1) "Adulterated" means the term applied to meat if:
(a) it bears or contains a poisonous or deleterious substance that may render it injurious to health,
except that if the substance is not an added substance, the product may not be considered adulterated if the
quantity of the substance is insufficient to ordinarily render it injurious to health;
(b) it bears or contains, by reason of administration of any substance to the meat, an added
poisonous or added deleterious substance other than a color additive, a food additive, or a pesticide chemical
in or on a raw agricultural commodity, any of which may in the board's judgment make the meat unfit for human
food;
(c) it is in whole or in part a raw agricultural commodity and bears or contains a pesticide chemical
that is unsafe as provided in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act;
(d) it bears or contains a food additive that is unsafe as provided in the Federal Food, Drug and
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Cosmetic Act;
(e) it bears or contains a color additive that is unsafe as provided in the Federal Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act; however, the meat that is not otherwise considered adulterated under subsection (1)(c), (1)(d), or
(1)(e) is considered adulterated if use of the pesticide chemical, food additive, or color additive in or on the
article is prohibited by rule of the board;
(f) it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or is for any other
reason unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food;
(g) it has been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have
become contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health;
(h) it is in whole or in part the product of an animal, including poultry, that has died otherwise than
by slaughter;
(i) its container is composed in whole or in part of any poisonous or deleterious substance that
may render the contents injurious to health;
(j) it has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity
with a regulation or exemption in effect pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 348; or
(k) any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted from the meat, any
substance has been substituted wholly or in part for meat, damage or inferiority has been concealed in any
manner, or any substance has been added to it or mixed or packed with it so as to increase its bulk or weight or
make it appear better or of greater value than it is.
(2) "Cell-cultured edible product" means the concept of meat, including but not limited to muscle
cells, fat cells, connective tissue, blood, and other components produced via cell culture, rather than from a
whole slaughtered animal has the same meaning as provided in 50-31-103.
(3) "Chief" means the chief meat inspector appointed as provided in 81-9-226.
(4) "Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act" means 21 U.S.C. 301 through 392, as that law read on
October 1, 1987.
(5) "Livestock" means cattle, buffalo, sheep, swine, goats, horses, and mules or other equines,
whether alive or dead.
(6) "Livestock product" or "poultry product" means a product capable of use as human food that is
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wholly or partially made from meat and is not specifically exempted by rule of the board.
(7) "Meat" means the edible flesh of livestock or poultry and includes livestock and poultry
products. This term does not include cell-cultured edible products as defined in this section.
(8) "Misbranded" means the term applied to meat:
(a) if its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;
(b) if it is offered for sale under the name of another food;
(c) if it is not entirely derived from the edible flesh of livestock or poultry or livestock and poultry
products. A cell-cultured edible product derived from meat muscle cells, fat cells, connective tissue, blood, or
other meat components is not considered to be misbranded if it is labeled in accordance with 50-31-103 to
indicate it is derived from those cells, tissues, blood, or components.
(d)(c) if it is an imitation of a meat product, unless its label bears, in type of uniform size and
prominence, the word "imitation" and immediately thereafter the name of the food being imitated;
(e)(d) if its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading;
(f)(e) if it does not bear a label showing:
(i) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and
(ii) an accurate statement of the quantity of the product in terms of weight, measure, or numerical
count. The board may adopt rules exempting small meat packages, meat not in containers, and other
reasonable variations.
(g)(f) if any word, statement, or other information required by 81-9-216 through 81-9-220 and 81-9-
226 through 81-9-236 to appear on the label is not prominently placed on the label, as compared with other
words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling, and is not stated in terms that render it likely to be read
and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;
(h)(g) if it is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity or composition has
been prescribed by the rules of the board, unless:
(i) it conforms to the definition and standard; and
(ii) its label bears the name of the food specified in the definition and standard and, if required by
the rules, the common names of optional ingredients present in the food, other than spices, flavoring, and
coloring;
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(i)(h) if it is represented as a food for which a standard of fill of container has been prescribed by
rules of the board and it falls below the standard of fill of container applicable to the food, unless its label bears,
in the manner and form that the rules specify, a statement that it falls below the standard;
(j)(i) if it is not subject to the provisions of subsection (8)(h) (8)(g), unless its label bears:
(i) the common or usual name of the food, if any; and
(ii) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each
ingredient, except that spices, flavorings, and colorings may, when authorized by the board, be designated as
spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each. To the extent that compliance with the requirements of
this subsection (8)(j)(ii) (8)(i)(ii) is impracticable or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions must
be established by rules promulgated by the board.
(k)(j) if it purports to be for special dietary uses, unless its label bears information concerning its
vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties as the board, after consultation with the U.S. secretary of
agriculture, by rule prescribes as necessary in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for those uses;
(l)(k) if it bears or contains an artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it
bears labeling stating that fact, provided that to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this
subsection (8)(l) (8)(k) is impracticable, exemptions must be established by rules promulgated by the board; or
(m)(l) if it fails to bear directly on the meat and on its containers, as the board may by rule prescribe,
the official inspection legend and establishment number of the establishment where the product was prepared
and other information that the board may require to ensure that it will not have false or misleading labeling and
that the public will be informed of the manner of handling required to maintain the meat in a wholesome
condition.
(9) (a) "Mobile slaughter facility" means a mobile unit that is operated by a person licensed by the
board to slaughter livestock or poultry, that is capable of providing onsite slaughter services for the owner of the
livestock or poultry, and at which inspection of the slaughter of livestock or poultry or the preparation of meat
food products is regulated under 81-9-216 through 81-9-220 and 81-9-226 through 81-9-236.
(b) The term does not mean a person engaged in custom slaughtering as provided in 81-9-218(2).
(10) "Official establishment" means an establishment licensed by the board at which inspection of
the slaughter of livestock or poultry or the preparation of meat food products is maintained under 81-9-216
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through 81-9-220 and 81-9-226 through 81-9-236. The term includes a mobile slaughter facility.
(11) "Pesticide chemical", "food additive", "color additive", and "raw agricultural commodity" have
the same meanings as provided in 21 U.S.C. 321.
(12) "Poultry" means any domesticated bird, whether alive or dead.
(13) "Prepared" means slaughtered, canned, salted, stuffed, rendered, boned, cut up, or otherwise
manufactured or processed."
Section 7. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral
part of Title 50, chapter 31, part 5, and the provisions of Title 50, chapter 31, part 5, apply to [sections 1 and 2].
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I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 401, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 401
INTRODUCED BY B. MITCHELL, V. RICCI, W. GALT, L. SCHUBERT, J. ISALY, M. NIKOLAKAKOS, S.
KELLY, S. KLAKKEN, E. ALBUS, J. SECKINGER, K. LOVE, G. OVERSTREET, T. SHARP, E. BYRNE, R.
GREGG, L. BENNETT, C. SCHOMER, C. COCHRAN, M. THIEL, T. MILLETT, E. TILLEMAN, T. MANZELLA,
D. ZOLNIKOV, M. BERTOGLIO, E. BUTTREY, M. CUFFE, D. EMRICH, J. FULLER, B. GILLESPIE, S. GIST,
L. JONES, R. MARSHALL, N. NICOL, A. REGIER, T. RUNNING WOLF, C. SPRUNGER, S. VANCE, J.
KASSMIER, G. LAMMERS, D. LOGE, M. YAKAWICH, S. FITZPATRICK, C. GLIMM, B. LER, K. WALSH, R.
MINER, J. SCHILLINGER, G. OBLANDER, K. ZOLNIKOV, J. ETCHART, L. DEMING, B. USHER, J.
GILLETTE, E. BOLDMAN, L. BREWSTER, N. DURAM, T. FALK, P. FIELDER, G. KMETZ, F. MANDEVILLE, T.
MCGILLVRAY, M. NOLAND, G. PARRY, L. REKSTEN, K. SEEKINS-CROWE, Z. WIRTH, B. BEARD, S.
ESSMANN, J. HINKLE, J. DARLING, B. PHALEN, C. FITZPATRICK, V. MOORE
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE MANUFACTURE FOR SALE, SALE, HOLDING OR OFFERING FOR SALE, OR
DISTRIBUTION OF CELL-CULTURED EDIBLE PRODUCT; PROVIDING PENALTIES; PROVIDING
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 50-31-103, 50-31-203,
50-31-501, AND 81-9-217, MCA.