STAND. COM. REP. NO.  635

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 452

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 452 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that all agricultural products labeled, advertised, or otherwise represented to be organic must be certified as organic by a qualified certifying agent pursuant to the federal National Organic Program.

The Council Member of the Maui County Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Ho‘omana Pono LLC., and a concerned individual supported the measure.  The Hawaii Center for Food Safety, Kakalina Farms, Hawaii Farmers Union United, GMO Free Kauai, Onila Farms, and numerous concerned individuals opposed the measure.  The Department of Agriculture and A‘a Li‘i Farm submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to establish an Organic Agricultural Products Voluntary Registry;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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. 452, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 452, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair