H-765                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1554

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Chandler, Fraser, Belcher, Anderson, Ballard, Wolfe and Brekke

Read first time 1/27/89 and referred to Committees on Agriculture & Rural Development/Appropriations (2/13/89).

AN ACT Relating to organic and low-input agriculture; amending RCW 15.86.010, 15.86.020, and 15.86.070; adding a new section to chapter 15.86 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 247, Laws of 1985 and RCW 15.86.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislature recognizes a public benefit in establishing standards for food products marketed and labeled using the term "organic" or a derivative of the term "organic."  ((Such standards shall also facilitate the development of)) The legislature also recognizes the public benefit in assisting farmers in learning and adopting organic farming practices and in helping farmers develop domestic and out-of-state markets for Washington food grown by organic methods.

        Sec. 2.  Section 2, chapter 247, Laws of 1985 and RCW 15.86.020 are each amended to read as follows:

          Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

          (1) "Director" means the director of the department of agriculture or the director's designee.

          (2) "Organic food" means any food product, including meat, dairy, and beverage, that is marketed using the term organic or any derivative of organic in its labeling or advertising.

          (3) "Producer" means any person or organization who or which (a) grows, raises, or produces a food product; and (b) sells the food product as, or offers it for sale as, an organic food.

          (4) "Vendor" means anyone who sells organic food to the consumer or another vendor.

        Sec. 3.  Section 12, chapter 393, Laws of 1987 and RCW 15.86.070 are each amended to read as follows:

          The director may adopt rules establishing a certification program for producers and processors of organic food.  The rules may govern, but are not limited to governing:  The number and scheduling of ((on-farm)) on-site visits, both announced and unannounced, by certification personnel; recordkeeping requirements; and the submission of product samples for chemical analysis.  The rules shall include a fee schedule that will provide for the recovery of the full cost of the ((certification)) inspection program.  Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in an account within the agricultural local fund and the revenue from such fees shall be used solely for carrying out the provisions of this section, and no appropriation is required for disbursement from the fund.  The director may employ such personnel as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 15.86 RCW to read as follows:

          The organic certification program shall encourage and promote the use of organic and low-input farming practices, and establish a public information campaign to explain the certification process and other facets of the organic agriculture industry to existing and interested growers.  To help the organic agriculture industry develop to its fullest potential, the program shall work with producers, universities, other state offices, and the cooperative extension service in meeting the current and future research, education, and extension needs of the industry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the department of agriculture to implement section 4 of this act.