Bill Summary for H 683 (2013-2014)

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Summary date: 

Apr 10 2013

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2013-2014 Session
House Bill 683 (Public) Filed Tuesday, April 9, 2013
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO BAR CIVIL ACTIONS AGAINST PACKERS, DISTRIBUTORS, MANUFACTURERS, CARRIERS, HOLDERS, SELLERS, MARKETERS, OR ADVERTISERS OF FOOD PRODUCTS THAT COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS BASED ON CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF WEIGHT GAIN, OBESITY, A HEALTH CONDITION ASSOCIATED WITH WEIGHT GAIN OR OBESITY, OR OTHER GENERALLY KNOWN CONDITION ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY OR ALLEGEDLY LIKELY TO RESULT FROM LONG-TERM CONSUMPTION OF FOOD; AND TO CLARIFY THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY NOT REGULATE THE SIZE OF SOFT DRINKS OFFERED FOR SALE.
Intro. by B. Brown, Moffitt, Ramsey.

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Bill summary

Adds a new Article 5, the Commonsense Consumption Act (CCA),in GS Chapter 99E. Sets limitations on liability of a packer, distributor, manufacturer, carrier, holder, seller, marketer, or advertiser of food as defined in section 201(f) of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 USC �_ 321(f), or an association of one or more such entities for any claim arising our of weight gain, obesity, a health condition associated with weight gain or obesity, or other generally known conditions allegedly caused by or likely to result from long-term consumption of food.Provides that a health condition arising from a single instance of consumption is not considered to be a result from the long-term consumption of food.

Provides for exceptions to the limit on liability, declaring that the liability limitation in new GS 99E-42 does not preclude liability in a civil action in which the claim arising from conditions arising from the long-term consumption of food meets either of the following: (1) an element of the cause of action is a material violation of an adulteration or misbranding requirement prescribed by a statute or rule of this state or the United States and the proximate cause of the claimed injury is the violationor (2) the claim is based on any other knowing and willful materialviolation of federal or state law applicable to the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, advertising, labeling, or sale of food, providing that the proximate cause of the claimed injury is the violation.

Provides that nothing in this Article is to be construed to to create any new claim, right of action, or civil liability not previously existing under state law. Provides additional guidelines regarding the construction of this Article and its applicability. Makes new Article 5 of GS Chapter 99 effective October 1, 2013, and applies to civil actions filed or pending on or after that date.

Enacts GS 160A-203 (cities) and GS 153A-146 (counties) to prohibit cities and counties from enacting ordinances prohibiting the sale of soft drinks above a particular size. Defines soft drinkas having the meaning in GS 105-164.3.

Except as otherwise indicated, effective when this act becomes law.