FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1473

                                   C 5 L 88

BYHouse Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development (originally sponsored by Representatives McLean, Doty, Rasmussen and Holm; by request of Department of Agriculture)

Revising provisions relating to food processors.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Senate Committee on Agriculture

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

With certain exceptions, the Washington Food Processing Act requires any person who operates a food processing plant or who processes or handles foods to obtain a license annually from the Department of Agriculture.  Among the establishments expressly exempted from this requirement of the act are those issued licenses or permits under the 1937 Bakery and Bakery Products Act or under laws governing the manufacture of macaroni products or confections.

Bakeries and distributors of bakery products are licensed and regulated by the Department of Agriculture under the 1937 Bakery and Bakery Products Act.  Persons operating macaroni factories and those who distribute macaroni products or sell such products except through fixed retail stores must secure permits under the macaroni products statutes.  A person who prepares, processes, manufactures or distributes confection or who sells it at other than fixed retail stores must secure a confectioner's permit from the Department under the state's confections statutes.

SUMMARY:

The following are repealed:  the 1937 Bakery and Bakery Products Act, the macaroni products statutes, and the confections statutes.

Persons who have secured licenses or permits under the statutes that are repealed are no longer exempted from the licensure requirements of the Washington Food Processing Act.

The annual fee required for a license under the Food Processing Act is increased from $10 to $25.  The fee for late renewals of licenses under the Act is increased from $5 to $15.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 93   0

      Senate    49     0

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988