Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (right) in May sign A bill that would ban the sale or cultivation of lab-grown meat in the state. The ban is expressly intended to avoid potential competition from Florida livestock producers.
“We must protect our incredible farmers and the integrity of American agriculture,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said in a statement in May. Press release. “Lab-grown meat is a shameful endeavor that undermines our proud heritage and prosperity and is in direct opposition to real agriculture.”
However, a litigation A lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of lab-grown meat producer UPSIDE Foods seeks to challenge the ban, arguing it violates existing federal regulations.
“UPSIDE does not want to force anyone to eat cultured meat,” the lawsuit reads. “But it does want the opportunity to distribute its products to willing consumers so that those consumers can decide for themselves whether UPSIDE’s products are worth eating.”
According to the lawsuit filed by the public interest law firm Institute for Justice (IJ), the ban violates two federal laws: the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). Both laws prohibit states from making “ingredient requirements” other than those required by law. They also prohibit states from enacting any other rules “regarding the premises, facilities, and operations of any agency providing inspections under the FMIA or PPIA.”
To IJ, this means that Florida’s ban violates the Constitution’s “Supremacy Clause because it is expressly preempted by federal laws regulating meat and poultry products,” the lawsuit says, adding that the law “clearly enacted The goal is to insulate Florida agricultural businesses from innovative products.” , out-of-state competition like UPSIDE. “
Florida’s ban is explicitly intended to protect Florida meat producers from possible competition from lab-grown meat producers. While not every consumer wants slaughter-free meat, those interested in trying meat alternatives should feel free to do so.
“The ban was enacted after intense lobbying by cattle interests, and its anti-competitive purpose is no secret. For example, Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, a farmer, publicly praised the ban for protecting the state’s cattle industry, and Governor DeSean Tice announced that on Tuesday, they signed a sign behind the podium that read “Save Our Beef.” Press release Read from IJ. “But protecting in-state agricultural interests from out-of-state innovative competition is not a legitimate use of government power. In fact, one of the primary reasons for adopting the U.S. Constitution was to secure a national common market.”
Florida’s law stifles innovation and competition under the guise of “protecting” consumers. The only problem is that no one needs to be protected by a product like UPSIDE. Rather than letting consumers decide whether lab-grown meat succeeds or fails, DeSantis and his allies are trying (unconstitutionally, according to the IJ) to determine the results.
