HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2773

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to agricultural product labeling.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 486, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§486-     Agricultural product branding and country or region of origin labeling.  (a)  All honey, macadamia nuts, coffee, tea, chocolate, vanilla, sea salt, and any other plant or animal product grown, packaged, or sold in Hawaii for which any information or name indicating "Hawaii", "Hawaiian", or any region of Hawaii, and where the product is less than one hundred per cent grown in Hawaii, shall after the word "Contains:" list on the front label the country or region of origin and the percentage of each country's or region's portion of the product in descending order of percentage and in font size at least equal to one-half the size of the largest font on the front label; provided that this subsection shall not apply to spices unless spice is the major portion of the product.

     (b)  Any agricultural product with a front label that reads, with or without Hawaiian okina:

     (1)  "100% Hawaii (product)" or "Hawaii (product)";

     (2)  "100% Hawaii-Grown (product)" or "Hawaii-Grown (product)";

     (3)  "100% Grown in Hawaii";

     (4)  "100% Hawaii-Made (product)" or "Hawaii-Made (product)";

     (5)  "100% Hawaiian-Made (product)" or "Hawaiian-Made (product)";

     (6)  "100% Made in Hawaii"; or

     (7)  "100% Hawaiian (product)" or "Hawaiian (product)",

shall contain a minimum of one hundred per cent Hawaii-grown product; provided that this subsection shall not apply to spices unless spice is the major portion of the product.

     (c)  All agricultural products claiming to be one hundred per cent grown in a single Hawaiian region shall be labeled to conform to the following conditions:

     (1)  Any product with a front label that reads, with or without Hawaiian okina, in a font size at least equal to one-half the size of the largest font:

          (A)  "100% (region) (product)" or "(Region) (product)";

          (B)  "100% (Region)-Grown (product)" or "(Region)-Grown (product)";

          (C)  "100% (Region)-Made (product)" or "(Region)-Made (product)"; or

          (D)  "100% (Region) (product)",

          shall contain a minimum of one hundred per cent Hawaiian regionally-grown product; and

     (2)  Any blend with a front label that reads, with or without Hawaiian okina, in a font size at least equal to one-half the size of the largest font:

          (A)  "100% Hawaiian Islands (product) Blend"; or

          (B)  "100% Hawaii Islands (product) Blend",

          shall contain a minimum of one hundred per cent products from Hawaii;

provided that this subsection shall not apply to spices unless spice is the major portion of the product.

     (d)  All packaging and labeling for agricultural products claiming to contain some but less than one hundred per cent Hawaii-grown product shall conform to the following specifications:

     (1)  A blended plant or animal product labeled with the words "Hawaii" or "Hawaiian" or the name of any Hawaiian region, such as "75% Kona Coffee Blend", shall:

          (A)  Contain a minimum of seventy-five per cent of that named region's agricultural or animal product, and shall use the word "Blend" in the identification of the product;

          (B)  List the percentage number of the majority portion of the product, such as "75% (Region) (product)"; and

          (C)  List after the word "Contains:" in descending order, and after the majority content, the remainder of the product by percentage and country or Hawaiian region of origin, with or without okinas, such as:

              (i)  "15% Argentina (product)" and "10% Congo (product)";

             (ii)  "15% Argentina (product)" and "10% Maui (product)"; or

            (iii)  "25% Maui and Kauai (product)";

          provided that the bulk listing of percentages shall be allowed for Hawaiian regions only; provided further that the labeling required in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) shall be printed on the front label in a font size at least equal to one-half the size of the largest font on the front label; and

     (2)  Any blended product that contains less than seventy-five per cent of a Hawaiian product shall not use the names "Hawaii" or "Hawaiian" or any Hawaiian regional name on the front label, except in the contents list, which shall identify on the front label the countries or geographic regions of origin for the entire product with the percentage for each country's or region's portion of the product in a font size at least equal to one-half the size of the largest font on the front label.

     (e)  Nothing stated on the side or back labels on any product subject to this section shall be inconsistent with statements appearing on the front label."

     SECTION 2.  To the extent the provisions of this section are inconsistent with the labeling requirements of section 486-120.5, 486-120.6, or 486-119, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or any other statutory provision, the provisions of this Act shall control.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Agricultural Products; Labeling; Hawaiian

 

Description:

Establishes certain standards for agricultural products labeled as being Hawaiian or from Hawaii.

 

 

 

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