STAND. COM. REP. NO 513

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 131

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 131 entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish, beginning January 1, 2016, labeling requirements for any food or raw agricultural commodity sold in the State that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced with a genetically engineered material;

 

     (2)  Establish exceptions related to labeling requirements;

 

     (3)  Establish violations related to labeling requirements; and

 

     (4)  Require the Director of Health to adopt rules related to labeling requirements.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Center for Food Safety; Pacific Agricultural Land Management Systems; Hawaii Sustainable Farms, LLC; Americans for Democratic Action; Babes Against Biotech; and four hundred ninety-four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii System; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawaii Food Industry Association; DuPont Pioneer; Western Plant Health Association; Biotechnology Industry Organization; Kamiya Gold, Inc.; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; Hawaii's Agricultural Partnerships; Omao Ranch Lands; Wine Institute; Agrium; Monsanto Hawaii; Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Island Princess; Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United; and one hundred thirty-eight individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from eight individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that there are growing concerns that genetically engineered material is harmful to public health and the environment.  Your Committees further find that a large percentage of the population supports the right to know which food products contain genetically engineered material and prefers to make informed decisions when purchasing food.

 

     Your Committees note the concerns relating to the consideration of a food as having been produced with a genetically engineered material if the animal from which the food is derived has been fed genetically engineered material and requests that your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means further examine this issue if they choose to hear this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 131 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Agriculture,

 

____________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair