HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1362

BYHouse Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Nealey, Betrozoff, Rasmussen and McLean)

Revising provisions on weights and measures.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Baugher, Bristow, Brooks, Chandler, Doty, Grant, Holm, R. King, McLean, Moyer, Nealey and Rasmussen.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS FEBRUARY 9, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Butter and margarine must be offered for sale by weight and only in units of 1/4 pound, 1/2 pound, one pound or multiples of one pound.

SUMMARY:

The Director of Agriculture may allow the sale of butter specialty products in nonstandard units of weight if the purpose achieved by using these nonstandard units is decorative in nature and the products are clearly labeled as to weight and price per pound.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Betrozoff; Jim Wommack, Department of Agriculture; and Dan Coyne, Washington State Dairymen's Federation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Butter is sold in standard sizes as a consumer protection measure.  However, a cottage industry has developed for creating decorative, gourmet patties for restaurants.  These cannot currently be sold at retail outlets.  The bill would permit such sales.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.