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Committee backs HB 496, adds inspector for mamaki tea labeling
Summary
The House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce voted to pass HB 496 (HD1) with an amendment to fund one full-time inspector to support reopening the package and labeling inspection section cited by the Department of Agriculture.
The House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce on Feb. 11 advanced House Bill 496 (HD1), a measure on mamaki tea labeling, and approved an amendment to add one full-time equivalent inspector to the Department of Agriculture.
The committee accepted the Department of Agriculture’s request for personnel after the department told members its package-and-labeling inspection section had been eliminated in 2009–2010 and that there are currently two vacancies in device inspection that are not specific to mamaki tea labeling. “We don't have a labeling, package inspection section anymore…we have 2 vacancies for device inspection, inspectors,” a Department of Agriculture representative said during testimony on Zoom.
Why it matters: Testimony from the Hawaii Farm Bureau stressed the cultural and brand value of mamaki and urged the committee to “get it right now” as state lawmakers consider labeling laws for other crops. Committee members pressed the department on whether creating a single position would require rebuilding a branch; the department said it has space and would reopen the section if funded.
Committee action and next steps: The committee’s chair recommended adding one FTE and an appropriation for the Department of Agriculture to support inspection duties; members adopted the recommendation and passed HB 496 with amendments. The amendment language and appropriation will appear in the committee report.
