STAND. COM. REP. NO. 870

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1988

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1988 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HONEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish labeling requirements for honey not produced in Hawaii and to add definitions related to honey to chapter 147, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS).

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Beekeepers' Association and one individual.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Health.  Comments were received from the Department of Agriculture.

     Your Committee finds the honey industry and the honey bees that produce Hawaii honey are a critical part of the agricultural production chain and that Hawaii honey needs to be protected and distinguished from honey that is imported to the State. 

     In addition, your Committee finds that unwary consumers should be protected from purchasing imported honey that does not disclose its true content or attempts to mislead consumers through its labeling.

     The intent of this measure is to protect consumers by establishing labeling requirements for honey imported to and sold in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure, based partially upon the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture, by:

     (1)  Removing section 1 of the bill to clarify that the intent is the accuracy of labeling;

     (2)  Removing the reference to the Department of Agriculture in determining whether honey has been adulterated within the meaning of section 328-9, HRS;

     (3)  Removing country of origin labeling requirements and replacing the language with a requirement to disclose the percentage of Hawaii produced honey in each package;

     (4)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to work with interested parties to develop labeling requirements and procedures regarding the disclosure of the country of origin of honey sold in and imported to the State;

     (5)  Changing the effective date to promote further discussion; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair