STAND. COM. REP. NO. 914

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 754

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 754, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to enact produce safety rules in accordance with the federal Food and Drug Administration Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that the federal Food and Drug Administration Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption establishes produce safety rules to allow for inspection and regulation of farms producing food for consumers. These produce safety rules include inspecting food on farms, which are also known as on-farm audits.

Your Committees further find that the Department of Agriculture has been engaging in discussions with the Department of Health to transfer the on-farm audit responsibilities to the Department of Agriculture. According to testimony from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health has no objections to the Department of Agriculture conducting the audits. The Department of Agriculture is currently waiting for the United States Food and Drug Administration to offer an agreement or contract and the funding to conduct the audits.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 754, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair