BILL REQ. #:  S-0164.3 

Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

     AN ACT Relating to naturally raised beef cattle; and adding a new section to chapter 15.04 RCW.

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 department shall administer a program to certify and market beef cattle from Washington as either:
     (a) Washington-certified natural beef cattle; or
     (b) Washington-certified natural grass-fed beef cattle.
     (2) To qualify as Washington-certified natural beef cattle, cattle must be:
     (a) Born and raised in Washington; and
     (b) Raised and finished:
     (i) In an environmentally prudent manner;
     (ii) Pursuant to beef quality assurance standards;
     (iii) Without subtherapeutic antibiotics, hormones, growth promotants, or ionophores; and
     (iv) Only on natural feed not containing drugs, chemicals, or animal byproducts.
     (3) To qualify as Washington-certified natural grass-fed beef cattle, cattle must meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section and must also be raised and finished on grass.
     (4) The department shall adopt rules specifying certification standards, including recordkeeping and verification protocols that require:
     (a) Maintaining cattle birth and health records, including vaccine lot numbers, vaccine manufacturers, and vaccination dates; and
     (b) At least one inspection of the farm or ranch of origin.
     (5) The department shall include promotion of beef from Washington-certified natural beef cattle and Washington-certified natural grass-fed beef cattle in its agricultural product marketing programs.