STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2800

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2955

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2955 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend coffee labeling and advertising requirements to include ready-to-drink coffee beverages and their inner wrapping or packaging labels.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Lions Gate Farms, LavaRock Farm, Athena of Hawaii LLC, Cassandra Farms, Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Kau Coffee Farmers, Kokoleka Lani Farms, Pono Hawai‘i Initiative, Absolutely Kona, and seventeen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that existing statutory requirements for fair trade coffee labeling and advertising apply to roasted and instant coffee, but do not apply to ready-to-drink coffee beverages and inner wrapping labels. Without adequate labeling, consumers may be confused as to whether the coffee being served is Hawaii-grown or not. This measure expands the coffee labeling and advertising requirements to include ready-to-drink coffee beverages and inner wrapping labels given to customers to allow consumers to make an enlightened choice as to their coffee preferences.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2955 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair