STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2688

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2098

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2098 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide support to the local sea salt manufacturing industry by helping to fund a study that will assist in obtaining federal Food and Drug Administration approval for the use of color additives in sea salt; provided that the industry contributes fifty percent of the cost of the study.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; H.K. Enterprise Group, Inc.; J's Hawaii Inc.; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salts; and two individuals.

Your Committees find that the popularity of sea salt made in Hawaii is on the rise. Your Committees further find that the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) industry guidance on the use of color additives in sea salt products indicates that sea salt manufactures who intend to use color additives that are not currently approved for food use should first obtain approval through the FDA's color additive petition process. Based on the testimony of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to obtain FDA approval for the use of color additives Hawaii sea salt companies will require a lengthy and costly study to be conducted and submitted to the FDA for review. This measure will facilitate the continued success of Hawaii sea salt companies by appropriating funds to provide education and support regarding the FDA's industry guidance on colored sea salt.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2098 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair