Section 2-11-33

Requirements as to advertisement or labeling for sale of catfish products generally.

(a) No catfish product shall be offered for direct retail sale for human consumption by a processor, distributor or retailer unless the catfish product name is specifically labeled in the following manner:

(1) "Farm-Raised Catfish, A Product of Alabama" if the product has been specifically produced in fresh water 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;

(2) "River or Lake Catfish, A Product of Alabama" 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;

(3) "Imported Catfish" if 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; or

(4) "Ocean Catfish" if the catfish product is produced from marine or estuarine waters.

(b) 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 subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Any retailer selling catfish products not wrapped or in a container may comply with this section 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," "Imported Catfish" or "Ocean Catfish," as such products are defined in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) Any advertising as to any catfish product shall state whether such catfish product is "Farm-Raised Catfish," "River or Lake Catfish," "Imported Catfish" or "Ocean Catfish," as defined in subsection (a) of this section.

(e) This section shall not apply to catfish products exported out of the United States.

(Acts 1975, No. 1191, p. 2333, §4.)