STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1818

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1988

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1988, S.D. 1, H.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 establishing labeling requirements for the percentage of honey that was produced in Hawaii and authorizing a certification program.

     The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Beekeepers Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Clarifying that it is a violation of the labeling requirement to label or advertise imported honey in a way that misrepresents its geographic origin; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     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 S.B. No. 1988, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1988, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair