COLUMBIA, S.C. — Diners across South Carolina should start seeing a new notice when they order shrimp. A state law now in force requires places that sell ready-to-eat food to tell customers when the shrimp they serve came from outside the United States.
The rule covers restaurants, cafeterias, food stands and food trucks. The law treats shrimp as domestic when it is harvested and brought ashore in U.S. or state waters, and anything brought into the country counts as foreign imported shrimp.
There are two versions of the notice. A business that mixes domestic and imported shrimp has to tell customers that some of its items may contain imported shrimp and invite them to ask for details. A business that serves only imported shrimp must say plainly that some items contain it. In both cases the notice goes on the menu, if there is one, and on a sign at the main entrance where the public can see it.
Enforcement falls to the state Department of Agriculture. A first violation brings a warning and three days to fix the problem. After that, a business can be fined at least $100 and as much as $5,000 for each day the violation continues.
The measure is aimed at helping the state shrimping fleet, which has long struggled against cheaper imports. Shrimpers say the labels could help them compete with importers by letting diners choose local catch on purpose.
Restaurants that serve only domestic shrimp do not need to post anything.
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