H-3900              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1896

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Unsoeld, Appelwick, Fuhrman, Todd, Cole, D. Nelson, Dellwo, Wineberry, Locke, Rust, Lux and Sanders

Read first time 1/24/86 and referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs.

AN ACT Relating to the labeling of irradiated foods; adding new sections to chapter 69.04 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     "Irradiation" means the use of gamma rays from radioactive isotopes such as Cobalt-60 on foods, drugs, or any consumed item.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     All irradiated foods sold in the state of Washington, shall bear, in addition to other information required by law, a written label indicating that it has been irradiated.  This label shall contain the following statements when applicable:

                                                      TREATED WITH IONIZING RADIATION

                                                                                  or

                                                      TREATED WITH GAMMA RADIATION.

!ixThe label shall conform to the provisions of RCW 69.04.270, misbranding by lack of a prominent label, as set up by the department of agriculture.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     All irradiated foods sold in the state of Washington at wholesale, shall bear, in addition to other information required by law, a written label indicating that it has been irradiated.  This label shall contain the following statements when applicable:

                                TREATED WITH IONIZING RADIATION:  DO NOT IRRADIATE AGAIN

                                                                                  or

                                TREATED WITH GAMMA RADIATION:  DO NOT IRRADIATE AGAIN.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Foods, such as produce, which are sold without packaging, will be labeled by any of the following methods:

          (1) A stencil or adhesive sticker of the international atomic energy association's proposed irradiation symbol, to be printed or fastened to the produce items; or

          (2) A label to be attached to the produce which indicates that the food has been irradiated as specified in section 2 of this act; or

          (3) Posting a sign next to each display of an irradiated food item.  The sign shall indicate that the food has been irradiated as specified in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Any foods sold that have been irradiated shall be indicated by an asterisk or other identifying mark beside the name of each irradiated food item where it appears on the menu.  There will be an explanation of the asterisk or other identifying mark on the menu or in the appropriate location for the consumer to read.  The location of the label shall conform to RCW 69.04.270.  The explanation shall include the statements outlined in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Each day the provisions of this section are violated shall constitute a separate offense.  Anyone found in violation of sections 1 through 5 of this act shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned for not less than six months nor more than one year, or both.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     Sections 1 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 69.04 RCW.