STAND. COM. REP. NO. 820

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1154

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1154 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Exempt certain home-based honey producers from processed food requirements and restrictions; and

(2) Subject a home-based producer of honey to inspections if the Department of Agriculture (DOA) receives complaints about its product.

Testimony in support of this bill was received from the Hawaii Beekeepers' Association. Testimony in support of the intent of this bill with amendments was received from the DOA.

Your Committee finds that this measure would allow a home-based agricultural producer of honey who:

(1) Sells less than 50 gallons of honey a year;

(2) Sells all of the honey directly to the consumer; and

(3) Complies with labeling requirements,

to be exempt from food processing and permit requirements.

Your Committee has amended the effective date to July 1, 2099, to encourage further discussion of this matter. Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1154, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1154, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

____________________________

KENNETH HIRAKI, Chair