SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   EHB 1572

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                                MARCH 25, 1991

Brief Description:  Requiring additional labeling on salmon sold for human consumption.

SPONSORS:Representatives Spanel, Wilson, R. King, Morris, Haugen, Orr, Cole, Fuhrman, Padden, Kremen and Paris.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Conner, Patterson, Snyder, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

Hearing Dates:March 25, 1991

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:

Fresh or frozen salmon that is offered for retail sale must be labeled and advertised showing the common name of the salmon species, whether it is farm raised salmon or commercially caught salmon and whether it is domestic or imported salmon, and, if Washington-caught or Washington-grown, that it is Washington-caught or Washington-grown.

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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

A null and void clause is added.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The consuming public would benefit from knowing what type of salmon they are buying.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  John Daly, Department of Agriculture (pro); Randy Ray, Pacific Seafood Processors Association; John Woodring, Washington Fish Growers Association (pro)