STAND. COM. REP. NO. 440-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1499

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 1499 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to partner with a Hawaii entity to establish a Pilot United States Department of Agriculture Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Food Safety Training and Certification Program to assist small- and medium-sized farms in obtaining the United States Department of Agriculture Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices certification.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; HT Hayashi Foundation; Hawaii Foodservice Alliance; Hawaii Fish Company; Malama Kaua‘i; Y. Hata & Co., Limited; Lanakila Pacific; HIP Agriculture; and seven individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that compliance with food safety regulations and the increasing demand for locally grown food in commercial and institutional markets provide an opportunity for small- and medium-sized farms to expand production to meet market conditions. Your Committees also find that food safety certification of farms in the State is a critical first step toward compliance with the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act and market acceptance of locally grown food, which can lead to increased market access and opportunities to increase local food production. The State's farmers would benefit from direct training and technical assistance to successfully implement food safety practices and obtain the United States Department of Agriculture Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices certification.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1499, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1499, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development,

____________________________ SEAN QUINLAN, Chair

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair