HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2369

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                    Fisheries & Wildlife

Title:  An act relating to salmon labeling for human consumption.

Brief Description:  Requiring salmon food fish to be labeled by its source and common name.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Spanel, R. King, Wilson, Basich, H. Sommers, Hochstatter, Morris, Fuhrman, Kremen, Orr, Haugen, Riley, Padden, R. Meyers, G. Cole, Sheldon, Bowman, Rasmussen and R. Johnson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Fisheries & Wildlife, January 21, 1992, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; Wilson, Ranking Minority Member; Fuhrman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; G. Cole; Haugen; Hochstatter; Orr; Padden; and Spanel.

Staff:  Keitlyn Watson (786-7310).

Background:  Consumers in Washington State are protected from mislabeled foods sold within the state under both state and federal law.  Under state law, false or misleading labels are generally defined as misbranding.  Some food items, such as halibut and poultry, have provisions that specifically describe certain acts that constitute misbranding.

The Department of Agriculture is the state agency primarily responsible for implementation of provisions prohibiting misbranding.  The department may issue an embargo of the food product involved or may seek an injunction through the attorney general, restraining a person from violating misbranding provisions.  Criminal penalties may also be sought against a violator.  After conviction and upon another violation, a violator may also be subject to a maximum of 30 days in jail.

Summary of Bill:  Any person that labels, advertises, or offers fresh or frozen salmon for wholesale or retail sale must identify the species of salmon by its common name as described in the bill, must identify whether the salmon is farm raised or commercially caught, and, if caught or raised in Washington, must indicate such.

Violations of these provisions constitute misbranding.

The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Fisheries, must establish reasonable identification standards for salmon and develop a method to administratively enforce provisions of the bill.

Fiscal Note:  Requested 1/15/92.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  There is support for the bill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Chuck Williams, Salmon for All.