On May 1, 2026, US Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) introduced the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act.  The bipartisan legislation, co-led by Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), would require cell-cultivated protein and plant-based alternative protein products to bear accurate labels.

Reps. Mark Alford, R-Mo., August Pfluger, R-Texas, Mike Flood, R-Neb., Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, Buddy Carter, R-Ga., and Tony Weid, R-Wis., sponsored the House version of the legislation.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association shows strong support for the legislation. Gene Copenhaver, NCBA president and Virginia cattle producer, noted that there is currently no federal statute for labeling cell-cultivated protein products in the marketplace.

"For far too long, lab-grown protein companies have exploited the use of terms like “meat” and “beef” to describe their products, creating the potential for consumer confusion through misleading marketing,” Copenhaver said. “The FAIR Labels Act will establish a federal guideline for labeling cell-cultivated and plant-based alternative protein products, ensuring consumers can easily differentiate these products from real beef products produced by US cattlemen and cattlewomen.”

The FAIR Labels Act would:

• Require lab-grown protein products to bear the label, “cell-cultivated protein.”
• Require plant-based “meat” products to bear the label, “plant-based alternative protein.”
• Mandate cell-cultivated and plant-based protein products include a disclaimer, noting the product in its final form was not derived from a live animal.
• Direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to revise their departments’ current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
• Direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to coordinate in developing necessary common standards of identity for cell-cultivated and plant-based alternative protein products.

Source: National Cattlemen's Beef Association