An Act To Ensure Accuracy in the Labeling of Maine Meat and Poultry
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2157, sub-§15 is enacted to read:
15. Mislabeling poultry and meat. If it is poultry, a poultry product, meat or a meat product offered for sale, sold or distributed within the State and labeled or advertised as "Maine-raised" or by a similar designation unless the poultry or animal was raised in Maine. A determination that poultry, a poultry product, meat or a meat product is misbranded may be waived by the commissioner upon application if the commissioner finds a waiver warranted due to economic factors, including, but not limited to, the proximity of processing facilities to the in-state poultry producer or meat producer and the availability of poultry processing facilities or meat processing facilities in the State. For purposes of this subsection, "raised in Maine" means:
A. For poultry and poultry products, that the poultry was raised solely in the State from no later than the 7th day after hatching and processed solely in the State; and
B. For meat and meat products, that the animal was born, raised and processed solely in the State.
As used in this subsection, "poultry," "poultry product," "meat" and "meat product" have the same meanings as in section 2511.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.