STAND. COM. REP. NO.  3-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   S.B. No. 1265

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1265, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LABELING OF MEAT AND FISH PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve food safety by:

(1)  Requiring accurate labeling of meat and fish products that have been gas-treated to enhance product color or to approximate the appearance of freshness; and

(2)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to post notice of this labeling requirement on its website.

     The Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996 testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA) supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Health and Hawaii Food Industry Association testified in opposition to this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Making language requiring the accurate labeling of fish products that have been gas-treated to approximate the appearance of freshness a new section under Hawaii's Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act rather than encompassing this language under the misleading or misbranding section of the Act;

     (2)  Changing the date on which the DOA is required to post notice of the labeling requirements on its website from August 1, 2009, to August 1, 2010;

     (3)  Changing the applicability of this measure to meat or fish products sold on or after August 1, 2010, rather than August 1, 2009; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1265, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1265, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair