S-3309.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6471

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Honeyford, Rasmussen, Johnson, Sheahan, Stevens, Swecker, Shin, Parlette, Deccio, McCaslin, Hochstatter, Gardner, Hewitt, Spanel, Kastama, Regala, Eide, Oke, Hale and Keiser

Read first time 01/17/2002.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & International Trade.

Requiring labeling of the origin of fruits and vegetables grown in the United States or grown in Washington state.

    AN ACT Relating to labeling of agricultural products by place of origin; adding a new section to chapter 15.04 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 15.04 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The legislature finds that it is a common practice for consumers to be provided information as to the country origin for many products available to them for purchase.  The legislature finds that consumers have a right to know the origin of the fresh fruits and vegetables being offered to them at retail sale.  The legislature finds that there is value to the consumer being able to make an informed buying decision as to whether the fresh fruit or vegetable was produced under standards and conditions required in the United States.  Further, the legislature finds that consumers should be given the ability to make an informed choice to buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown in Washington state as a means of supporting the economy of the state.

    (2) Stores or other businesses offering fresh fruit and vegetables for retail sale to consumers shall place a placard on the bin, shelf, or other location the product is displayed that informs the consumer where the fruit or vegetable was grown if it was grown in the United States or grown in Washington.  The placard shall indicate that the product was either "Grown in United States" or "Grown in Washington." Placards are not required if (a) the product was grown outside of the United States, or (b) each item in the bin, shelf, or other location contains a sticker or label that indicates where the fruit or vegetable product was grown.

    (3) The department shall administer this section.  If the store or other retail location is found to be in violation of this section, for the first violation per location each calendar year, the department shall issue a warning.  For a second violation for the same location in the same calendar year, the department may issue a civil fine of up to two hundred fifty dollars.  For the third and subsequent violations for the same location in the same calendar year, the department may issue a civil fine of up to one thousand dollars.

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