Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1154, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt home-based agricultural producers of honey who sell limited amounts of honey to consumers from food processing and permit requirements.

The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and the Hawaii Beekeepers' Association submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that honey is a relatively safe product, and allowing honey producers to sell fifty gallons or less per year should not pose a health risk. This measure provides an exemption from food processing and permit requirements to home-based agricultural producers of honey if the producer:

Your Committee noted testimony from both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health suggesting that the provisions in this measure be placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health. Your Committee adopted the departments' revision and amended this measure by creating a new part within chapter 328, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee has further amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for style, consistency, and clarity.

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