HB 66 was signed into law May 2024, requiring all Alabama food establishments, from grocery stores to restaurants, to label whether any seafood being served is imported or domestically produced. Establishments must also disclose whether the seafood was farm-raised or wild-caught.
Effective October 1, 2024, all locations on campus providing food service will be required to display a sign meeting the requirements as outlined by the law:
A food service establishment that primarily prepares a covered commodity that originated outside of the United States on-premises and that does not use a menu as a standard business practice shall display on a sign posted at the main entrance to the establishment stating that certain covered commodities, as applicable, being offered by the establishment are imported. Each sign shall be not less than eight and one half inches wide by 11 inches tall and shall be written in the English language in letters not less than one inch in size. The sign shall be placed in an open area and in a conspicuous position not less than 36 inches from the floor so that it is visible to all patrons.
- Farm-raised is defined as any fish or shellfish that are bred, raised, and harvested in a controlled environment. Controlled environments extend to enclosures within lakes, rivers, or oceans.
- Wild-caught is defined as any fish or shellfish that are naturally born or hatchery raised and harvested in their natural environment.
- Imported – any farm-raised or wild fish that was hatched, raised, harvested, or processed outside the United States or a territory of the United States (Code of Ala. 1975, Sections 22 – 20A-1).
- Domestically Produced – any farm-raised or wild fish hatched, raised, harvested, or processed within the United States or a territory of the United States (Code of Ala. 1975, Sections 22 – 20A-1).