As Amended
SEC. 69-7-607. Labeling of catfish products; exceptions.
(1) No catfish product shall be offered for direct retail sale for human consumption by a processor, distributor, wholesaler or retailer unless the catfish product name is specifically labeled in the following manner:
(a) "FARM-RAISED CATFISH, A PRODUCT OF MISSISSIPPI" if the product has been specifically produced in freshwater according to the usual and customary techniques of commercial aquaculture; except that the appropriate state name or USA or United States of America may be inserted in lieu thereof to accommodate similar catfish products produced in any one of the other states of the United States of America.
(b) "RIVER OR LAKE CATFISH, A PRODUCT OF MISSISSIPPI" if the product has been produced in any freshwater lake, river or stream of the state, but has not been produced according to the usual and customary techniques of commercial aquaculture; except that the appropriate state name or USA or United States of America may be inserted in lieu thereof to accommodate similar catfish products produced in freshwater lakes, rivers or streams of any other state in the United States of America.
(c) "IMPORTED CATFISH" provided the catfish is produced from freshwater, either according to the usual and customary techniques of, aquaculture, or from freshwater lakes, rivers or streams of a country other than the United States of America.
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(2) Any person selling river or lake catfish exclusively and directly to the consumer may have on his premises a sign reasonably visible to the consumer identifying such product as river or lake catfish, rather than labeling each individual container or package of catfish product, as provided in this section.
(3) Any retailer selling catfish products not wrapped or in a container may comply with this article by placing a sign on the display case or refrigeration unit reasonably visible to the consumer, giving notice that such catfish is either "Farm-raised Catfish," "River or Lake Catfish" or "Imported Catfish" * * * as such products are defined in this section.
(4) Any advertising as to any catfish product shall state whether such catfish product is "Farm-raised Catfish," "River or Lake Catfish" or "Imported Catfish" * * * as defined in this section.
(5) The term "catfish" shall not be used as a common name or in the label name of fish product except as provided in this section.
(6) This section shall not apply to catfish products exported out of the United States.
SOURCES: Laws, 1975, ch. 308, Sec. 4; Laws, 2002, ch. 506, § 2, SB 2345; Laws, 2004, ch. 377, § 2, SB 2608, eff from and after passage (approved Apr. 20, 2004).
PRVIOUS VERSIONS: Pre-2004