STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2568

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2112

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2112 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADDITIVES IN FOOD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to, beginning January 1, 2027, ban the manufacture, sale, offer of sale, or distribution in the State of any food that contains petroleum-based synthetic food dyes and synthetic chemical additives.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the National Confectioners Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, America Beverage Association, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, and Food Ingredient Safety Coalition.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Pet Food Institute, and Animal Health Institute.

Your Committee finds that numerous petroleum-based synthetic food dyes and chemical additives have been scientifically linked to adverse health effects, including cancer, organ damage, and reproductive harm in addition to hyperactivity, behavioral issues, and neurological problems in children. Furthermore, the United States Department of Health and Human Services announced its initiative to phase out petroleum-based food dyes from the American food supply as these compounds offer zero nutritional benefit and pose dangers to child development and public health. Your Committee further finds that other jurisdictions have banned, phased out, or highly regulated chemical additives in food including the European Union, Japan, Australia, and other states such as California and West Virginia. Therefore, this measure supports a strong statewide food safety system that aligns with related federal and existing international health regulations.

Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony by the Animal Health Institute that pet food has a distinct regulatory framework that manages pet food best practices. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the ban on manufacturing, selling, or distributing in the State of any food that contains certain petroleum-based synthetic food dyes and synthetic chemical additives shall only apply to food meant for human consumption; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of Health, which requests additional funding to effectuate the prohibition on certain petroleum-based synthetic food dyes and synthetic chemical additives. Your Committee respectfully requests that any subsequent Committees hearing this measure, as it moves through the legislative process, consider the Department of Health's request for:

(1) $600,000 for specialized laboratory equipment to test potentially violative products to verify compliance; and

(2) Annual funding in the amount of $200,000 for:

(A) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) laboratory chemist positions;

(B) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) inspector positions; and

(C) Equipment maintenance and laboratory supplies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2112, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2112, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair