Font ResizeSANTA FE - Those who lie about serving world-famous New Mexico chile could be in hot water.
The House of Representatives on Friday approved a bill that would make it unlawful for businesses to falsely claim that chile is from New Mexico. The vote was 65-0.
Under the law, restaurants, stores and roadside stands that violate the New Mexico Chile Advertising Act could find themselves subject to injunctions.
The state Department of Agriculture would be the enforcer. Its staff members would have the power to inspect a business' records related to products "being advertised, described, labeled or offered for sale as New Mexico chile or as containing New Mexico chile."
The sponsor, state Rep. Andy Nunez, from the chile capital of Hatch, said the bill is intended to bring honesty to advertising and protect New Mexico growers. He said chile producers from other states and countries are falsely labeling their goods as New Mexico chile.
"New Mexico chile is the best, and we should protect it," Nunez said in an interview.
Nunez's proposal is HB 485. A companion bill already has received approval from the Senate on a 34-0 vote.
Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@tnmnp.com or (505) 820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com.
