Bill Text: HI HR154 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Genetically Engineered Food; Labeling; DOH; Study; Report

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-29 - (H) The committee(s) recommends that the measure be deferred. [HR154 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-HR154-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	154
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of health to report on the feasibility of implementing a labeling system for genetically engineered foods.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the growth of genetically engineered food production has been swift and pervasive throughout the nation; and

 

     WHEREAS, the term "genetically engineered food" most commonly refers to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content; and

 

     WHEREAS, the effort to incorporate genetically engineered foods into the general food supply is sometimes met with resistance from consumers; and

 

     WHEREAS, numerous nations, including Japan, the Republic of China, and countries of the European Union, require labeling of genetically engineered foods; and

 

     WHEREAS, developing and implementing an effective means of identifying genetically engineered products would help mitigate consumers' fears and uncertainties; and

 

     WHEREAS, local agricultural producers and retailers could benefit from a consistent labeling system to better inform consumers of the varying methods employed to develop agricultural products; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the Director of Health is requested to report to the Legislature on the feasibility of implementing a labeling system for food products that contain genetically engineered material, including clear and objective methods to identify genetically engineered material; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the report also consider the impact of legislation that:

 

     (1)  Mandates the labeling of food products that contain genetically engineered material; and

 

     (2)  Establishes sanctions for violations of the labeling requirement; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to collaborate with the Attorney General, the Department of Agriculture, and local agricultural producers and retailers in preparing the report; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit the report no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Attorney General, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, the Chairperson of the Board of the Hawaii Farmers Union, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Food Industry Association, and the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Genetically Engineered Food; Labeling; DOH; Study; Report