HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1910

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

Title:  An act relating to establishing logos for substances approved for use in the production, processing, and handling of organic food.

Brief Description:  Establishing logos for substances approved for use in the production, processing, and handling of organic food.

Sponsors:  Representatives G. Chandler and Anderson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/25/99, 2/26/99 [DPS].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Authorizes the use of logos for the sale of substances registered for use in the production of organic food.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives G. Chandler, Republican Co-Chair; Linville, Democratic Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Koster, Republican Vice Chair; Anderson; B. Chandler; Delvin; Fortunato; Grant; Reardon; Schoesler; Stensen; Sump and Wood.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:

The state's organic food laws authorize the director of Department of Agriculture to establish by rule a certification program for producers, processors, and vendors of organic and transition to organic food.  Among the rules adopted establishing such certification programs are those designating logos for that may be used by various certificate holders. These logos contain the seal of the state of Washington.

The organic food laws require the director to establish a list of approved substances that may be used in the production, processing, and handling of organic food.  Materials manufactured for use in producing organic food may be registered with the department under rules adopted by the department.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Unless otherwise provided for by rule, substances approved by the director of Department of Agriculture and registered for use in organic food production may be identified by the use of a logo.  Such a logo may include the seal of the state of Washington.  This authority does not require rule-making.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill allowed the use of such logos for substances approved for use in the production, processing, or handling of organic food.  Under the substitute bill, the substances must also be registered for use in organic food production.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  (Original bill)  The bill provides the labeling-for-marketing authority currently available for other organic food products.

Testimony Against:  None.

(With concerns)  (Original bill)  The authority granted by the bill is too broad.  It encompasses the use of generic products over which the department has no regulatory control, yet allows marketing of these with the state seal.  The authority should be narrowed to those products actually registered with the department.

Testified:  (In support)  Jerry Smedes, Cedar Grove Composting.

(With Concerns)  Mary Beth Lang, Department of Agriculture.