Product Ban and Labeling Bills Advance in California Legislature
Three bills that could result in new product safety and labeling regulations recently advanced in the California legislature. Bills that would require labeling on added-sugar beverages and genetically modified (GM) foods were approved by California Senate committees on May 23. The California Assembly passed another bill on the same day that would ban the sale of microplastic beads in the state.
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The Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Safety Warning Act, SB 1000, would set a California state requirement for safety labeling on sugar-sweetened beverages, defined as “any sweetened nonalcoholic beverage, carbonated or noncarbonated, sold for human consumption that has added caloric sweeteners and contains 75 calories or more per 12 fluid ounces. The bill would define nonalcoholic beverages as containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. The labeling requirements would not apply to some dietary aids. The bill was approved by Senate committee in a 5-2 vote.
The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, SB 1381, would require labeling of foods to disclose any GM ingredients by 2016. Otherwise, the food would be considered misbranded. It also passed Senate committee in a 5-2 vote.
Finally, the Microplastic Nuisance Prevention Law, AB 1699, was passed by the California Assembly on May 23, and now heads to the state senate for consideration. It would ban the sale in the state of California of consumer products containing microplastics, defined as “any plastic size 5 millimeter or less in all dimensions.” The ban would take effect at the beginning of 2019.