State Representative Chip Brown announced on Monday that he has pre-filed a bill to require country of origin labeling on seafood that is sold in Alabama.

Is that fish harvested off of the Alabama coast, grown in a pond in the U.S., harvested off of Madagascar, or grown in a pond in China? Too often the consumer does not know.

Brown’s bill is designed to support the state’s commercial seafood industry by requiring restaurants and grocery stores to disclose the country of origin for seafood products they sell to consumers.

“The seafood industry is essential to the economy throughout Alabama’s Gulf Coast region, and with foreign caught products flooding the U.S. market, we must take every step to both support it and protect it,” Rep. Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island) said.

“By requiring disclosure of the country of origin for seafood, we can encourage the use of products caught in Alabama while ensuring that consumers are better informed about the food they consume.”

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Under existing state law, seafood suppliers are required to inform grocery stores and restaurants about the country of origin for their products. There is no requirement however that they pass that information on to consumers and customers.

Brown’s bill would require that grocery stores clearly provide the country of origin on seafood labels or on the bins in which the products are displayed for sale.

Restaurants would be required to disclose the country of origin on the menu listing for seafood dishes they sell or on conspicuous signage plainly visible to diners and patrons.

Brown’s bill would also be required to include country of origin information in advertisements featuring seafood products and dishes.

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Brown’s will also require grocers and restauranteurs to disclose if the fish or shrimp products are farm-raised or caught in the wild.

The State Health Officer would be assigned enforcement authority under the bill’s provisions, and could assign civil penalties, including monetary fines, to ensure compliance.

The 2024 Alabama Regular Legislative Session will begin on Tuesday, February 6.

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