STAND. COM. REP. NO. 762

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 521

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 521 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAW MILK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize and decriminalize the sale of raw milk and raw milk products directly to consumers for human consumption, subject to certain conditions; and

(2) Authorize the sale of raw goat milk for pet consumption, subject to certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Pet Depot, Weston A. Price Foundation, and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that raw milk is milk that has not undergone the process of pasteurization, which is the process by which milk is mildly heated to destroy pathogens. Your Committee further finds that there is a consumer demand for raw milk due to its taste and health benefits. However, under existing administrative rules, milk is only available to the public if it has undergone the process of pasteurization. Your Committee notes that goat milk is similarly prohibited unless it has undergone the process of pasteurization. This measure is intended to provide consumers and their pets with more milk beverage choices.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 521 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair