South CarolinaFood sellers would post notices when serving imported shrimp
Starting October 28, 2026, South Carolina food sellers serving imported shrimp must post notices telling customers that menu items may contain it.
What it does
Starting October 28, 2026, South Carolina food sellers serving imported shrimp must post a notice on menus and at their main entrance. The wording depends on whether they also serve domestic shrimp.
Businesses that do not post the required notice would receive three days to fix a first violation. Later violations could bring daily fines of $100 to $5,000.
Argument forClear menu and entrance notices could help diners ask questions and make more informed choices about shrimp served by food sellers.
Argument againstDaily fines of up to $5,000 for repeat violations could create a significant burden for small restaurants and food stands.
More detail
Food service establishments must display a shrimp-origin disclaimer on any menu and at the main entrance. The rule covers South Carolina restaurants, cafeterias, food stands, food trucks, and other businesses that sell ready-to-eat food to the public. Businesses serving both imported and domestic shrimp must say some items may contain imported shrimp. Businesses serving imported shrimp but no domestic shrimp must say some items contain imported shrimp. The notice must be easy for the public to see. The requirements take effect October 28, 2026, 120 days after the governor approved the act.
The Department of Agriculture must issue a warning for a first violation and a civil fine for each day of a second or later violation. These penalties apply to food service establishments that fail to display the required imported-shrimp notice. A first warning must give the business three days to fix the violation. A second or later offense carries a fine of at least $100 and no more than $5,000 for each day the violation continues. The warning and fine rules apply when the act's notice requirements take effect on October 28, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 1Act No. 254Latest
- Jul 1Effective date 10/28/26
- Jun 30Signed By Governor Henry McMasterBecame Law
- Jun 29Ratified R 271
- Jun 25Ordered enrolled for ratificationTo Governor
- Vote recorded to adopt the conference report. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Report. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 25Roll call Ayes-33 Nays-5
- Jun 25Conference report received and adopted
- Jun 25Roll call Yeas-95 Nays-0
- Jun 25Conference report received and adopted
- May 14Conference committee appointed Johnson, Bennett, Sutton
- May 14House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. Forrest, Erickson, Kirby
- May 14Non-concurrence in House amendment
- May 13Roll call Yeas-108 Nays-0
- Vote recorded Adopt Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 13Returned to Senate with amendments
- May 13Senate amendment amendedMinor
- May 12Debate adjourned
- May 7Read third time and returned to House with amendmentsPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 6Scrivener's error corrected
- Apr 30Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0
- Vote recorded 2nd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 30Read second timeMinor
- Apr 30AmendedMajor
- Apr 28Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and Natural ResourcesMinor
- Apr 15Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural ResourcesMinor
- Apr 15Introduced and read first timeMinor
- Apr 15Read third time and sent to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 14Roll call Yeas-103 Nays-0
- Vote recorded Passage of Bill. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Read second timeMinor
- Apr 14Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hartnett, Luck, Gilliard, Rivers, W.Newton, Guest, J.Moore, Williams
- Apr 2Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental AffairsMinor
- Feb 25Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hewitt, Cobb-Hunter, Forrest, M.M.Smith
- Feb 19Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pope
- 2025
- Mar 27Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental AffairsMinor
- Mar 27Introduced and read first timeIntroduced
Consumer ProtectionAgricultureEnvironment & Energy