STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1391

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1988

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1988, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HONEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the honey industry in Hawaii by preventing misleading labeling of honey-type products through the use of identity statement requirements for labeling and advertising of pure natural honey and related products.

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture did not support this bill.

     In light of recommendations received during the public hearing, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting provisions that establish revised labeling requirements for the identity statement used for labeling or advertising honey products.  As amended, this bill establishes labeling requirements for the percentage of honey that was produced in Hawaii and authorizes certification of the grades of honey. Among other things, this bill:

     (1)  Allows certain phrases to be used for honey products consisting entirely of Hawaii-produced honey;

     (2)  Requires certain phrases and information to be displayed for honey products consisting of a blend of Hawaii-produced and non-Hawaii-produced honey;

     (3)  Allows a listing of the geographic origins of Hawaii-produced honeys to be shown on the label and establishes requirements for the list if the list is used;

     (4)  Requires a listing of the geographic origins of non-Hawaii-produced honey included in a blend to be shown on the label and establishes requirements for the list;

     (5)  Establishes violations of the labeling requirements; and

     (6)  Requires apiculturists, manufacturers, or other persons who package honey to:

          (A)  Maintain records on the volume and geographic origin of honeys produced and sold and any other records required by DOA; and

          (B)  Provide authorized DOA employees access to these records during normal business hours.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1988, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1988, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair