Bans distribution or sale of food containing animal cell-based product.

A4087

ASSEMBLY, No. 4087

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

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.