STAND. COM. REP. NO. 810

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1221

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1221, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure the continued viability of the State's sea salt manufacturing industry by appropriating funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to address the Food and Drug Administration's industry guidance on the use of color additives in sea salt products.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii-made sea salt products are a well-known product both here in Hawaii and around the world.  Your Committee also finds that recent guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration regarding red and black Hawaiian sea salts have caused large financial stress on the industry due to the cost of testing that is required to meet the guidelines.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's assistance will relieve local small businesses from bearing the burden of these costs and allow them to continue to focus on growing their business.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1221, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1221, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair