An Act to Ensure Transparency in the Labeling of Meat as Grass-fed
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0834
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BOYER, BRENNER, BOYLE, CLUCHEY, DILL, GUERRETTE, JAUCH, PLUECKER, RISEMAN, TIPPING
Amends: 22 MRSA §2157

Legislative Document
No. 834
H.P. 523
House of Representatives, February 21, 2023
An Act to Ensure Transparency in the Labeling of Meat as Grass-
fed
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BOYER of Poland.
Cosponsored by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland and
Representatives: BOYLE of Gorham, CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, DILL of Old Town, 
GUERRETTE of Caribou, JAUCH of Topsham, PLUECKER of Warren, RISEMAN of 
Harrison, Senator: TIPPING of Penobscot.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2157, sub-§15, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 528, §10 and corrected 
by RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §23, is amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
For the purposes of this subsection, "hemp" has the same meaning as in Title 7, section 
2231, subsection 1‑A, paragraph D; or
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §2157, sub-§16, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 455, §1 and 
reallocated by RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §22, is amended by amending the first blocked 
paragraph to read:
As used in this subsection, "poultry," "poultry product," "meat" and "meat product" have 
the same meanings as in section 2511.; or
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §2157, sub-§17 is enacted to read:
17.  Grass-fed claims.  If a person sells, offers for sale or distributes within the State 
or sells, offers for sale or serves in any retail food establishment or eating establishment as 
defined in section 2491, subsection 7 any meat or meat product as defined in section 2511 
labeled or advertised as "grass-fed" or by similar designation unless the ruminant animal 
was grass-fed.
For purposes of this subsection, "grass-fed" means, with respect to meat or a meat product, 
that the ruminant animal from which the meat was derived consumed only grass and forage 
during its lifetime with the exception of milk consumed prior to its weaning. For purposes 
of this subsection, "forage" means the edible parts of plants, other than separated grain, that 
provide feed for grazing animals or that can be harvested for feeding.
A determination that meat or a meat product is misbranded may be waived by the 
commissioner upon application if the commissioner finds a waiver warranted due to 
inadvertent exposure of the animal to nonforage feedstuffs or because incidental 
supplementation with nonforage feedstuffs was necessary to ensure the well-being of the 
animal during adverse environmental or physical conditions.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a person from selling, offering for sale or distributing within the 
State or selling, offering for sale or serving in any retail food establishment or eating 
establishment any meat or meat product labeled or advertised as "grass-fed" or by similar 
designation unless the ruminant animal was grass-fed. The Commissioner of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry may waive the determination that meat or a meat product is 
misbranded if the commissioner finds a waiver is warranted due to inadvertent exposure of 
the animal to nonforage feedstuffs or because incidental supplementation with nonforage 
feedstuffs was necessary to ensure the well-being of the animal during adverse 
environmental or physical conditions.