Just over two months after it was approved by the state legislature, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed a bill requiring clear labeling of imported shrimp into law.
“The enactment of HB 117 is a huge victory for Georgia shrimpers, who organized an effective grassroots campaign to ensure that consumers have the ability to choose U.S. wild-caught shrimp when they dine out,” Southern Shrimp Alliance Director Blake Price said in a release.
The legislation requires food establishments to mark menu items that include imported shrimp with a “FOREIGN IMPORTED” label. Alternatively, a publicly visible placard stating “FOREIGN IMPORTED SHRIMP” can be used.
Georgia is the latest Southern state to implement its own shrimp or seafood labeling law in response to frustration with the prevalence of imported shrimp in the region, much of which is misleadingly sold at restaurants as a local product.
DNA testing firm SeaD Consulting has stoked those concerns by sampling shrimp from local restaurants, highlighting the large number of establishments misleading their customers by serving foreign shrimp. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas have all adopted legislation to address the issue with clearer labeling, and South Carolina is considering its own version.
Georgia’s legislation has taken a long path to become law. While the Georgia House of Representatives passed the bill in early 2025, the state Senate only gave its approval in February 2026. The House then gave its approval of the slightly edited legislation and sent it to the governor, who announced the signing 6 May.
