STAND. COM. REP. NO. 749

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1265

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1265 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LABELING OF MEAT AND FISH PRODUCTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve food safety by requiring the accurate labeling of meat and fish products that have been gas-treated to enhance the product color or to approximate the appearance of freshness.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was received from the Grocery Manufacturers Association.  Testimony with comments on this measure was received from the Department of Agriculture.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that gas treatment, while not itself harmful, may alter the color of packaged meat or fish in such a way that makes it difficult for a consumer to tell whether the product is actually fresh or merely appears to be so.  Your Committee notes that packaged meat or fish may contain high bacteria levels indicative of spoilage even though it has not passed the "use, sell, or freeze by" date stamped on the package.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to post notice of the labeling requirement contained in this measure on its website;

 

(2)  Deferring the implementation of this measure to allow producers, retailers, and the Department of Agriculture sufficient time for compliance; and

 

(3)  Making minor, nonsubstantive technical changes for the purpose of clarity and accuracy in the language of this measure. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1265, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1265, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair