Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Commerce & Labor Committee

HB 2710

Brief Description:  Applying the consumer protection act to the sale of halal food products.

Sponsors:  Representatives Van Luven, Veloria, Esser, Tokuda, Santos, Cooper, Morell and Nixon.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Makes the sale of food represented as halal, but known to be not halal, a gross misdemeanor and a violation of the consumer protection act.

Hearing Date:  2/4/02

Staff:  Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).

Background:

Halal food products are those foods prepared, processed, manufactured, maintained, and sold in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Islamic religion.  Some of the applicable restrictions for the preparation of halal foods are similar to those required for Kosher foods and certified organic foods.

Summary of Bill:

A dealer whose inventory consists of more than 50 percent halal food products must: 1) label all non‑halal foods in a way consumers can easily differentiate between food products that are halal and those not halal; and 2) maintain and make available upon request written information about the preparation of halal foods.

A "dealer" includes any business that advertises or represents itself as selling or maintaining halal food, including manufacturers, slaughterhouses, wholesalers, stores, restaurants, hotels, caterers, summer camps, nursing homes, freezer dealers, and food plan companies.

A dealer who sells food represented as halal, but which the dealer knows is not halal, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.  Such a sale also constitutes a violation of the consumer protection act.

Rules Authority:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule‑making powers of an agency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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