03-02-2015, 11:56 AM
rainyjim
Apparently someone agrees that it's not as simple as slapping on a label.
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
P. O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801-3378
doh.testimony@doh.hawaii.gov
Testimony in OPPOSITION to SB 131
RELATING TO FOOD LABELING
SENATOR JOSH GREEN, CHAIR
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
SENATOR RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Hearing Date: February 19, 2015 Room Number: 414
Time: 2:45 PM
Fiscal Implications: Passage of this measure will require substantial resources. The department would need to hire numerous experts in the field of biotechnology and genetics as well as multi- million dollar analytical equipment currently not available at DOH. Additional enforcement staff will also be required.
Department Testimony: The department respectfully opposes this bill. The department does not object in principle to a labeling policy to enhance public awareness of the absence or presence of genetically engineered food or food ingredients in Hawaii markets. However, the department is not in a position to enforce such legislation because practical and legally defensible analytical methods to detect any and all genetic modifications do not exist. Testing for common genetic markers could easily be evaded. Furthermore we do not conduct genetic engineering work; and therefore, do not possess the requisite scientific expertise, capacity, equipment and experience to test and determine whether a suspected food or food product has been genetically engineered at a confidence that could withstand legal challenges.
Currently, there is no conclusive scientific evidence of negative health effects associated with the consumption of genetically engineered food or food products as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As such, we do not believe such labeling is a health issue and thus do not support any such program being assigned to the department to administer.
The department would like to focus its limited resources in areas such as controlling the incidence of food borne illness risk factors by inspecting food establishments at the appropriate frequency.
Timely inspections have proven to produce consistent compliance with food safety regulations and reduce the rates of food borne illness outbreaks.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Apparently someone agrees that it's not as simple as slapping on a label.
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
P. O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801-3378
doh.testimony@doh.hawaii.gov
Testimony in OPPOSITION to SB 131
RELATING TO FOOD LABELING
SENATOR JOSH GREEN, CHAIR
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
SENATOR RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Hearing Date: February 19, 2015 Room Number: 414
Time: 2:45 PM
Fiscal Implications: Passage of this measure will require substantial resources. The department would need to hire numerous experts in the field of biotechnology and genetics as well as multi- million dollar analytical equipment currently not available at DOH. Additional enforcement staff will also be required.
Department Testimony: The department respectfully opposes this bill. The department does not object in principle to a labeling policy to enhance public awareness of the absence or presence of genetically engineered food or food ingredients in Hawaii markets. However, the department is not in a position to enforce such legislation because practical and legally defensible analytical methods to detect any and all genetic modifications do not exist. Testing for common genetic markers could easily be evaded. Furthermore we do not conduct genetic engineering work; and therefore, do not possess the requisite scientific expertise, capacity, equipment and experience to test and determine whether a suspected food or food product has been genetically engineered at a confidence that could withstand legal challenges.
Currently, there is no conclusive scientific evidence of negative health effects associated with the consumption of genetically engineered food or food products as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As such, we do not believe such labeling is a health issue and thus do not support any such program being assigned to the department to administer.
The department would like to focus its limited resources in areas such as controlling the incidence of food borne illness risk factors by inspecting food establishments at the appropriate frequency.
Timely inspections have proven to produce consistent compliance with food safety regulations and reduce the rates of food borne illness outbreaks.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.