U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi have introduced the Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling (LABEL) Act, which aims to require clear labeling on all seafood sold at retail locations in the United States. The bill would mandate that packaging or display materials for seafood include country of origin and production method information in a font size at least as large as the product name.
Currently, some imported seafood labels are printed so small that consumers may not notice them, making it difficult for U.S. producers to compete with imported products. Senator Tuberville said, “American producers have been undercut by foreign producers dumping their low-quality seafood into our markets. There’s no better source for fish and seafood than Alabama ponds and the Gulf of America, and we want people to know where their food is coming from. I’m proud to join Senator Hyde-Smith in this legislation that bolsters American seafood production, promotes safe seafood consumption, and protects our domestic producers.”
Senator Hyde-Smith added, “Mississippi’s seafood industry is already battling a flood of cheap imports, much of which don’t meet the same safety standards our domestic producers uphold. This bill would ensure American consumers know exactly where their seafood comes from, while giving our domestic fishermen and producers a fair chance to compete.”
Alabama and Mississippi have already enacted similar state laws requiring clear labeling for all seafood sold within their borders. In 2024, Alabama passed legislation mandating restaurants and retailers label whether seafood is wild-caught or farm-raised, as well as whether it is imported or domestically produced.
The LABEL Act seeks to establish similar requirements nationwide but applies only to retail establishments—not restaurants.
The proposed legislation has received support from several industry groups including the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), Louisiana Shrimp Association, Southern Shrimp Alliance, and Organized Seafood Association of Alabama.
Senator Tuberville serves on several Senate committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Veterans’ Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP); and Aging.
