STAND. COM. REP. NO.  91-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2582

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2582 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist farmers and ranchers in complying with food safety requirements by:

(1)  Establishing within the Department of Agriculture an Agricultural Food Safety Certification Program that:

(A)  At a minimum complies with the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act;

(B)  Concurrently satisfies the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and the Department of Agriculture;

(C)  Researches less burdensome alternatives to satisfying food safety requirements;

(D)  Establishes food safety compliance education programs; and

(E)  Acts as an information clearinghouse for food safety laws; and

(2)  Appropriating funds for the development and implementation of the Agricultural Food Safety Certification Program and staff positions within the Program.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau and Maui County Farm Bureau supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.

     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 H.B. No. 2582 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair