HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6582
As Passed House
March 2, 1994
Title: An act relating to grades and standards for agricultural products.
Brief Description: Applying grades and standards only to apples packed in Washington state.
Sponsors: Senators M. Rasmussen, Newhouse, Loveland and Moore.
Brief History:
Reported by House Committee on:
Agriculture & Rural Development, February 23, 1994, DP.
Passed House, March 2, 1994. 95-0.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Schoesler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chappell; Grant; Karahalios; McMorris and Roland.
Staff: Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).
Background: State law requires the Director of Agriculture to establish grades or classifications, or both grades and classifications, for apples and standards for such grades and classifications. It is unlawful to sell or transport apples unless they comply with such requirements. State law also requires any container of a horticultural product to be marked with the U.S. grade or classification, the Washington grade or classification, or with a private grade or brand. It is unlawful for such a product to be mislabeled.
Summary of Bill: Washington's grades and standards for apples apply to and may be used only on containers of apples packed within this state. It is unlawful for a container of apples to be marked with a Washington grade designation for apples unless the container of apples is packed in this state.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Apples packed in other states are labeled as being a Washington grade. Only Washington apples should be labeled in this fashion.
Testimony Against: None.
Witnesses: In favor: Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor; and Jim Halstrom, Washington State Horticulture Association.