Laserfiche WebLink
. B . NO . <br /> A BILL FOR AN ACT <br /> RELATING TO THE LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS . <br /> BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: <br /> 1 SECTION 1 . The legislature finds that polls consistently <br /> 2 demonstrate that seventy-two to ninety-four per cent of United <br /> 3 States citizens support labeling of genetically engineered foods, <br /> 4 and a poll conducted by the University of Hawaii ' s college of <br /> 5 tropical agriculture and human resources shows that seventy-two <br /> 6 per cent of Hawaii ' s residents feel that it is very important that <br /> 7 genetically modified fruit be labeled. Numerous nations, including <br /> 8 countries of the European Union, Japan, and China, require <br /> 9 labeling of genetically engineered foods . <br /> 10 The legislature further finds that the Hawaiian Islands <br /> 11 represent a unique and fragile ecosystem, with over three hundred <br /> 12 threatened or endangered species . The State of Hawaii has a <br /> 13 national reputation for producing high-quality foods and <br /> 14 maintaining a pure and preserved natural environment; the State ' s <br /> 15 unique agricultural heritage and vitality in its tourism industry <br /> 16 rely upon this reputation. <br /> 17 Genetically engineered crops in the United States have <br /> 18 contaminated conventional and organic crops of the same species <br /> 19 via pollen or seed dispersal . Contamination episodes may cause <br /> 20 economic losses to farmers, food companies, and other entities <br /> 21 through reduced crop prices, product recalls, and export market <br /> 22 rejection. <br /> 23 Mandatory labeling of genetically engineered whole foods : <br /> Ex A proposed State bill GMO 9-7-1 Ldoc <br />