COM 0480.000 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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JUSTIFICATION SHEET PROPOSER: Hawaii State Association of Counties 'ITI"LE: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT BRANDING AND COUNTRY OR REGION OF ORIGIN LABELING IN HAWAII REVISED STATUTES,SECTION 486. PURPOSE: To amend HRS Chapter 486 on branding agricultural products and labeling with the country or region of origin to protect Hawai`i's regional crops and our growers investment,provide protection of the consumer, prevent misleading information on labels,be informative to all parties of interest,create an identity for Hawai`i agricultural products,increase the minimum percentage in blends of any product to 75%before a Hawaiian or Hawaii regional name may be placed on the label,and equalize all agricultural products in the way products are labeled and blended. MEANS: Amend HRS Chapter 486 to make all agricultural products fairly and accurately labeled with a minimum percentage of Hawaiian products and country or region of origin so the consumer knows exactly what they are buying from the front label. JUSTIFICATION: Milk products require 90%of the product to be produced in Hawaii before the name of"Island Fresh"may be allowed on the label. However, other Hawaiian products,coffee,tea,vanilla, and macadamia nuts products are allowed to have as low as 10%Hawaiian product and be labeled with a Hawaiian regional name and the word,"blend". This is discriminatory,disadvantages the growers,confuses the consumer, degrades our Hawaiian products,and makes a mockery of the regional quality of our products. Additionally,HRS 486 specifically and in numerous sections,prohibits unfair or misleading the consumer,or misrepresents the origin of the product. HRS 486-110 specifically states "measure of any commodity for sale reflects accurate information and fair measurement practices to all concerned". Section 486 needs to be amended to protect the growers and consumers.