MississippiHB 6022025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Crawfish and seafood; provide country of origin labeling requirements for.

Sponsored By: Brent Anderson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Marine ResourcesPorts and Marine Resources

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Clearer Seafood Labels, New Seller Duties

Beginning July 1, 2025, Mississippi seafood wholesalers, processors, retailers, and food service businesses must identify products as domestic or imported. The rules cover crawfish and saltwater seafood, but exclude catfish. Domestic products must meet U.S. harvest, hatch, or raising requirements and be processed in the United States, including its territories. Products harvested or processed abroad count as imported, as do mixtures containing any imported product. Imported disclosures must appear on labels, menus, displays, or ads in lettering at least as large as the product name. Products served must match what was advertised or sold. Domestic-only seafood businesses may post that fact prominently; food service businesses may use this notice instead of menu labels. Suppliers must keep verifiable origin records, give buyers country-of-origin documents, and provide records to state regulators on request. Records must identify each country involved in the product's origin. Mississippi's agriculture and marine-resource agencies oversee enforcement, adopt rules, and may inspect businesses and collect samples for species and compliance testing.

Seafood Sellers Face Fines With Safeguards

Beginning July 1, 2025, businesses face civil fines for breaking Mississippi's seafood and crawfish origin rules. A first violation carries no penalty if corrected within three days after written notice. Otherwise, fines are $500–$1,000 for a first violation, $1,000–$2,000 for a second, and $3,000–$5,000 for a third. Fourth and later violations carry fines of at least $10,000. Knowing violations are misdemeanors carrying up to $10,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. For an unknowing violation, good-faith reliance on supplier-origin documents is a defense when supported by evidence. An operation facing the maximum penalty may have its license suspended or revoked. Seafood collections go to the marine-resource department and Seafood Fund to support domestic seafood promotion and enforcement. Crawfish collections support agriculture-department enforcement.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Brent Anderson
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Kevin Felsher
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 335 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 118 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 2/10/2025

Passed