§ 48–303. Date labels.

(a) The Department of Health shall not:

(1) Require a date label on food products that, based on current scientific evidence, do not pose an increased safety risk to consumers by a stated period; or

(2) Limit the sale or donation of food products after their date label has passed, except for those food products that pose an increased safety risk to consumers when consumed after the date on the label.

(b) Within 120 days after February 22, 2019, the Department of Health shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this section.

(c) For the purposes of this section, the term "date label" refers to any date labeled on a food product, including those accompanied by the phrase "Best By", "Use By", "Sell By", "Best Before", "Expiration date", or any other descriptive phrase or date that is determined by the manufacturer to estimate when the food product might expire for use or be at its peak quality if it was handled and stored in a certain manner.