PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-03-133.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Hop labeling requirements, WAC 16-532-120.
Hearing Location(s): Washington State Department of Agriculture, Ag Conference Room, 21 North First Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902, on April 27, 2006, at 2:30 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: July 17, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Ann George, Administrator, Washington Hop Commission, 301 West Prospect Place, Moxee, WA 98936, e-mail ann@wahops.org, fax (509) 453-457-8561 [457-8561], by April 27, 2006, 5:00 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Rochelle Painter at (360) 902-2060, by April 19, 2006, TTY (360) 902-1996.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The Washington hop commission is proposing to remove the requirement to stencil all hop bales with "WASHINGTON" OR "WASHINGTON GROWN."
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Reducing the bale stencil requirements will save growers the expense of applying the stencil, and will improve recycling of burlap bale cloth.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 15.65.050, 15.65.330, and chapter 34.05 RCW.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 15.65 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The proposed change will update the regulation to reflect changes in hop marketing procedures, which have resulted in more in-state processing of raw hops prior to shipment to end users. Removal of the requirement to label hop bales as "grown in Washington" will save producers time and expense, while having no impact on marketing of the crop.
Name of Proponent: Washington hop commission, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Ann George, Moxee, (509) 453-4749; Implementation and Enforcement: Washington hop commission, Moxee, (509) 453-4749.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Technical amendments being proposed do not require a small business economic impact statement pursuant to RCW 19.85.030.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The Washington hop commission is not a named agency in RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a)(i).
March 22, 2006
Ann E. George
Administrator
OTS-8575.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-059, filed 4/30/04,
effective 5/31/04)
WAC 16-532-120
Labeling.
(((1))) Each lot of hops must
be identified by the crop year produced, grower number and lot
designation, and variety stenciled on each bale.
(((a))) (1) A three-digit grower number will be assigned
by the Washington hop commodity board (commission) prior to
the annual harvest.
(((b))) (2) The first marking will consist of the last
digit of the crop year, the letter "G" and a hyphen, followed
by the three-digit grower number and lot designation (example:
8G-000-01).
(((c))) (3) The first marking shall be affixed on the
head or top of the bale and shall be in characters
approximately two inches high.
(((d))) (4) The second marking will consist of the hop
variety, utilizing a two-letter abbreviation. A list of
approved two-letter abbreviations will be approved annually by
the Washington state hop commodity board.
(((e))) (5) The second marking shall be affixed
immediately below the first marking on the head or top of the
bale, and shall be in characters approximately two inches
high.
(((2) In addition to any other brands, labels, stencils
or other marks customarily used by hop handlers to identify
their own trademarks, labels or firm names, all baled hops
shall be branded, labeled, stenciled or marked with one
distinctive identifying marking, defined or designated by the
hop commodity board (commission), which shall identify the
hops as having been grown in the state of Washington.
(a) This mark or identification shall be stenciled in letters at least one inch in height and shall read: "WASHINGTON," or "GROWN IN WASHINGTON," as prescribed by the hop commodity board (commission).
(b) This mark or identification shall be affixed in a suitable position on the head or top of the bale, in the area generally used by the federal/state inspectors to stencil their own identification mark and in the same general area where the grower's "G" number and variety identification are applied.
(c) At no time shall the identification marking appear on the face or sides of the bales, as these areas are considered to be for the use of the dealer or handler for trademarks, shipping markings, bale numbers, firm insignias, etc.
(d) The approved identification marking shall be affixed by the federal/state inspector prior to the drawing of samples for federal/state inspection, and, no hops may be sampled for this purpose unless the markings have been affixed thereto in compliance with the regulations prescribed by the hop commodity board (commission).
(e) Handlers who offer hops for sale in foreign countries where only shipping markings are permitted on the bales or containers, may apply to the hop commodity board (commission) for permission to blot out or remove the identifying marking.))
[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.047 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 04-10-059, § 16-532-120, filed 4/30/04, effective 5/31/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.050. 97-17-096, § 16-532-120, filed 8/20/97, effective 9/20/97; 95-17-118 (Order 5077), § 16-532-120, filed 8/23/95, effective 9/23/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.280 and WAC 16-532-020 10K [(10)(k)]. 93-09-014, § 16-532-120, filed 4/13/93, effective 5/14/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.65.380. 88-13-050 (Resolution No. 88-01), § 16-532-120, filed 6/10/88; Regulation 2, filed 10/16/64.]