BILL REQ. #:  H-2519.2 

Read first time 03/11/09.   Referred to Committee on Environmental Health.

     AN ACT Relating to safe and healthful food; and adding a new section to chapter 70.54 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 70.54 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The commission on safe and healthful food is established composed of sixteen members as follows:
     (a) Nine members appointed by the governor as follows:
     (i) Two members representing food producers;
     (ii) Two members representing food processors;
     (iii) Two members representing product retailers;
     (iv) Two members representing consumers; and
     (v) One member to serve as chairperson;
     (b) Two members representing the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, with one representative chosen from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives;
     (c) Two members representing the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, with one representative chosen from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate;
     (d) The director of the department of agriculture, or the director's designee;
     (e) The director of the department of health, or the director's designee; and
     (f) One member representing local health districts.
     (2) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner that the original appointments were made.
     (3) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
     (4) Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (5) The commission must:
     (a) Identify current issues relating to foodborne illness outbreaks and the ways state oversight and regulation may help prevent and mitigate the effects of the outbreaks;
     (b) Identify best practices for notifying consumers of food product recalls;
     (c) Identify state and federal efforts to enforce labeling and inspection laws and determine if additional resources are necessary;
     (d) Recommend and prioritize actions that may be taken by the state to provide disclosure to consumers on food products for the following:
     (i) Irradiated foods;
     (ii) Genetically engineered food;
     (iii) Modified atmosphere packaging;
     (iv) Organic labeling;
     (v) Needling meat; and
     (vi) Location of packaging and date packaged; and
     (e) Serve as a forum for discussion and resolution of issues on healthy food and safe food.
     (6) Recommendations based on the priorities established by the commission must be reported to appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1st of each year.