STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2023

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2736

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2736 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish labeling requirements for any food or raw agricultural commodity sold in the State that contains genetically engineered material, or was produced with genetically engineered material, with certain exceptions for restaurants and retail establishments.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kauai County Council; Hawaiian Sustainability Foundation; Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery; Life of the Land; Emerald Isle Properties; Kilauea Paint and Feed Store; Dad's Granola, LLC; Island Breath; Hawaii Government Employees Association; Progressive Democrats of Hawaii; Democratic Party of Hawaii; Kona Hawaiian Civic Club; IMUAlliance; Hawaiian Affairs Caucus; Babes Against Biotech; and several individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiian Sustainability Foundation; Monsanto Hawaii; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; David S. De Luz Sr., and Enterprises Inc.; 4 Ag Hawaii; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and several individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that there are growing concerns that genetically engineered material is harmful to public health and the environment.  Your Committee further finds 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.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2736 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Agriculture and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair