STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2027

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.C.R. No. 110

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 110 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ADOPT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM INSPECTION, CERTIFICATION, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COFFEE GROWN IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that the Department of Agriculture adopt uniform administrative rules relating to all coffee beans grown in Hawaii, whether green or roasted beans, in order to establish uniform inspection and certification requirements to ensure better and higher quality and assurance for all Hawaii-grown coffee.

     Also, that the Department of Agriculture adopt administrative rules to establish audit requirements for all coffee mills and roasters in Hawaii so that a uniform level of quality and assurance can be maintained and monitored.

     Further, that the Department of Agriculture cooperate and coordinate with the Kona Coffee Council and form a special committee to establish a suitable certification and audit plan to appropriately meet the needs of small coffee farmers.

     The Department of Agriculture (DOA) testified in support of the intent of the measure, but opposed the part that the DOA adopt uniform inspection and certification requirements for all coffee beans grown in Hawaii for roasted coffee since there are current administrative rules established for the inspection and certification for all green coffee grown in Hawaii.

     The Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996, DFS Hawaii, Hilo Hattie dba Pomare, Ltd., Hawaii Coffee Company, Brew Moon Restaurant & Microbrewery, Royal Kona Visitor Center Mill & Museum, Captain Cook Coffee Co., Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffee & Smoothies, Maui Oma Coffee Roasting Company, Royal Island Coffee Hawaii, and other individuals also supported this measure.

     Punawele Farms, LLC, Aina na Hoku Kai Farm, Kanalani Ohana Farm, Moonstruck Farm, and Good Kine Coffee provided opposing testimony and recommended that a feasibility study rather than a firm recommendation should be made due to wide ranging unintended consequences of changes.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 110 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair