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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
70 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
Supporting the right of hawaii's farmers to sell their locally grown produce free of duplicative and unnecessary state and local rules and regulations.
WHEREAS, Hawaii imports approximately eighty-five to ninety percent of its food supply; and
WHEREAS, with rising fuel costs, it is important for Hawaii to become more sustainable and self-sufficient with respect to food security; and
WHEREAS, farmers, particularly small farmers, in Hawaii already face too many rules and regulatory obstacles that make it difficult for them to succeed commercially, including requirements that they obtain temporary food sales permits from the Department of Health to sell their value-added produce directly to consumers; and
WHEREAS, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, P.L. 111-353, enacted on January 4, 2011, contains many provisions designed to significantly increase the oversight of food processing and food safety, and does not regulate or require regulation of small farms or oversight of raw or unprocessed foods; and
WHEREAS, some grocery chains in Hawaii already require local farmers to conform their operations to meet stringent food safety certification levels; and
WHEREAS, there is no compelling reason for Hawaii to require temporary food sales permits when selling value-added produce directly to consumers or to duplicate or expand any food processing or food safety rules and regulations beyond those contained in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body supports the right of Hawaii's farmers to sell:
(1) Locally grown value-added foods free of unnecessary additional layers of government oversight, such as food sales permitting requirements;
(2) Locally grown value-added foods free of state and local rules and regulations that duplicate or expand those contained in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act; and
(3) Locally-grown raw or unprocessed food free of state or local government rules and regulations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Agriculture; Farmers; Food Safety Rules and Regulations