A five-year moratorium on cell-cultured protein will take effect in South Dakota in less than a week under a measure passed during the 2026 legislative session.
Senate Bill 124, signed into law following a compromise brokered by Governor Larry Rhoden, pauses the production and sale of lab-grown protein products in the state. Lawmakers said the moratorium is intended to allow time for further study, monitor ongoing legal challenges in other states, and reduce the risk of costly lawsuits.
Supporters also say the measure upholds South Dakota’s agricultural values while maintaining a fair marketplace. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Craig Bieber said cell-cultured products should not be considered real meat and backed the state’s cautious approach.
The moratorium follows a separate 2025 law signed by Rhoden that made it illegal to mislabel cell-cultured protein as traditional meat.
State officials say the pause will give regulators and producers time to evaluate the emerging industry before any long-term decisions are made.
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