STAND. COM. REP. NO. 461

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 486

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 486 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (Commission) to review and report on environmental impact food labeling and possible methods of implementation in Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Good Food Movement, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Keiko Conservation, and four individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and Hawaii Food Industry Association.

Your Committees find that the prevalent, modern food system is a major driver of climate change, changes in land use, depletion of fresh water resources, and pollution of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems through excessive nitrogen and phosphorus inputs. Your Committees further find that the food system emits about thirty percent of greenhouse gases and drives eighty percent of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. In particular, transporting non-local food items to Hawaii contributes significantly to greenhouse gases, and imported foods have a higher environmental impact and contribute to climate change.

Your Committees also find that Hawaii residents would benefit from food labeling that shows the environmental impact of each food item to differentiate between products produced with a greater negative environmental impact and those with smaller carbon footprint. Mandatory labels support sustainable consumption and may mitigate climate change.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an appropriation amount of $100,000 for the Commission to conduct its review and report its findings and recommendations.

Your Committees suggests to the Commission that in reviewing and reporting on the concept of food labeling based on its environmental impact, the Commission should gather information from and interview food distributors and retailers regarding the feasibility of implementing this labeling.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 486, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 486, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair