Bill Text: HI SB2975 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2975 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Food Safety.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-24 - Referred to AEN, WAM. [SB2975 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2975-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2975
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to food safety.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, according to the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program, Hawaii is the most geographically isolated state in the country and imports approximately ninety-two per cent of its food. According to the department of business, economic development, and tourism, replacing just ten per cent of produce imported in the State could keep over $300,000,000 circulating within Hawaii's economy, generate $6,000,000 in state tax revenues, stimulate growth in agriculture, and create over two thousand new jobs. Such diversification would help make Hawaii's food supply and economy more resilient to worldwide events.

The legislature notes that, through the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented more comprehensive food safety regulations for agriculture and full compliance by affected farms began in January 2020. Currently, only thirty-two of Hawaii's farms are food safety certified. Ninety per cent of Hawaii's 7,328 farms are small to very small farms, many of which are adversely affected by the cost of food safety certification and the time needed to develop and implement the requirements.

The legislature further finds that over the next several years, all state departments and many local retailers and distributors will increase purchasing products from food safety-certified farms to meet the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act requirements and to satisfy customer demand for food safety documentation. To meet this new customer demand, buyers will be forced to import food safety-certified products to replace produce currently purchased from local uncertified sources, further increasing the State's dependency on imported food.

The legislature believes that in Hawaii, small- and medium-sized farms are key to increasing the supply of locally grown food. The preservation of small, diversified farming businesses adds to and diversifies Hawaii's economy, helps redress the imbalance in agricultural trade, and promotes food self-sufficiency and resiliency. Many farms currently grow only what can be sold in direct-to-consumer markets, often leaving much of their land uncultivated. Compliance with food safety regulations and increasing demand for locally grown food in commercial and institutional markets provides an opportunity for small- and medium-sized farms to expand production to meet these new market conditions.

The legislature additionally finds that food safety certification of Hawaii farms, a critical first step toward compliance with the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act and market acceptance of locally grown food, can lead to increased market access and opportunities to increase local food production. Hawaii's small and medium farmers require direct training and technical assistance to successfully implement good agricultural practices and obtain Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. Reducing the burden on small to medium farms seeking required certifications and inspections allow many farms to secure GAP certification or an equivalent before FDA enforcement of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act begins in earnest after COVID-19 and will provide an ongoing food safety resources for Hawaii.

The legislature further finds that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the GAP certification program, a voluntary program designed to reduce the risk of foodborne illness originating with produce at the farm level through implementation of preventive food safety best practices and record keeping. Hawaii GroupGAP is the only farm food safety training program, and one of only fifteen nationwide, that results in USDA Harmonized GAP certification, the most common standard required by larger commercial and institutional buyers. The Harmonized GAP standard aligns with the requirements of USDA GAP with those of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act to help streamline federal compliance for farmers. In its last two cohorts, eighty-five per cent of Hawaii GroupGAP farms successfully obtained their Harmonized GAP certification. Hawaii GroupGAP is currently responsible for sixty-five per cent of all Harmonized GAP certified farms and twenty-three per cent of all GAP certified farms in the State. The legislature also notes that a continued certification success rate of seventy-five per cent or more has the potential to result in permanent funding for this program through the department of agriculture.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of agriculture to partner with a Hawaii entity to establish a pilot USDA Harmonized GAP food safety training and certification program to assist small- to medium-sized farms in obtaining Harmonized GAP food safety certification.

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall partner with a Hawaii entity to establish a pilot USDA Harmonized GAP food safety training and certification program to provide direct implementation and technical assistance to small- and medium-sized farms to obtain the United States Department of Agriculture's Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices certification.

For the purposes of this section, "small- and medium-sized farm" means a farm that has an annual food sale revenue of $500,000 or less.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the department of agriculture to partner with a Hawaii entity to establish a pilot USDA Harmonized GAP food safety training and certification program as provided in section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Food Safety Training and Certification Pilot Program; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the department of agriculture to partner with a Hawaii entity to establish a pilot USDA Harmonized GAP food safety training and certification program to help small- and medium-sized farms obtain the United States Department of Agriculture's Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices certification. Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.