03/22/1995 05:02 PM House FSH

 HFSH - 03/22/95                                                              
 HB 208 - SEAFOOD PROCESSING STANDARDS                                        
                                                                               
 Number 269                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHERYL SUTTON, Administrative Assistant to Representative Moses,              
 testified on his behalf as the prime sponsor of this bill.  She               
 specified, "HB 208 addresses one area of a changing seafood                   
 industry.  This is the area of seafood inspection through Hazard              
 Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) planning.  Currently, the             
 federal government, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)            
 is proposing to adopt regulations to ensure the safe processing and           
 monitoring of fish and fishery products.  HB 208 will mirror the              
 requirements adopted by the FDA in state statute and will replace             
 the current plans of operation with a HACCP plan.  The HACCP system           
 will produce a more efficient system for ensuring the safety of               
 seafood products than currently exist.  The effective date of the             
 Act will also mirror the adoption of the federal rule.                        
 International trade is also a major consideration in determining              
 the advisability and benefits of a new system of seafood                      
 regulation.  Both Canada and the European community have                      
 implemented or are in the process of implementing mandatory HACCP             
 based seafood inspection programs.  Failure by the United States to           
 adopt a mandatory HACCP based inspection system and failure by                
 Alaska, may ultimately undermine its export success with                      
 considerable economic consequence."                                           
                                                                               
 Number 318                                                                    
                                                                               
 JANICE ADAIR, Regional Director, Department of Environmental                  
 Conservation, testified via teleconference from Anchorage, in                 
 support of the concept behind this legislation and is working with            
 Ms. Sutton on the committee substitute.                                       
                                                                               
 Number 325                                                                    
                                                                               
 DAVE CHOQUETTE, President, Alaska Choice Seafoods, testified via              
 teleconference from Anchorage, in wholehearted support of HB 208.             
 He stated, "We feel that the bill will go a long way towards                  
 strengthening the relationship between the industry and the                   
 regulatory agency.  We also feel the harmonizing effect this bill             
 will have in bringing a universal understanding of the regulation             
 through the HACCP program."                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 372                                                                    
                                                                               
 DOUG DONEGAN, Vice President, Trident Seafoods Corporation,                   
 testified via teleconference from Anchorage, in strong support of             
 HB 208.  He stated, "We believe it will reduce duplication of                 
 efforts for industry in the state and it will continue to protect             
 the safety of the consumers in Alaska seafood products."                      
                                                                               
 Number 388                                                                    
                                                                               
 JIM YONKER, Director, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, testified via                    
 teleconference from Seattle, Washington, in support of HB 208.  He            
 also thanked ADEC's efforts and the legislature in working together           
 to bring this special program on line.                                        
                                                                               
 Number 400                                                                    
                                                                               
 KEN ROEHMILDT, Superintendent, North Pacific Processors, testified            
 via teleconference from Cordova, in support of this bill.  He                 
 stated, "HB 208 provides a level of inspection that is acceptable             
 to me as a processor and demanded by consumers worldwide."  He went           
 on to say, "We Alaskan processors currently operate at higher costs           
 than outside processors and to remain in business we must not                 
 increase our costs beyond what is absolutely necessary."                      
                                                                               
 Number 417                                                                    
                                                                               
 HAP SYMMONDS, Plant Manager, St. Elias Seafood Products, testified            
 via teleconference from Cordova, in support of HB 208.  He                    
 commented, "This bill will bring HACCP regulations under one roof             
 with ADEC, FDA and the European union regulations being the same.             
 It will make it more streamlined for plant managers and for plant             
 quality control people to follow the regulations.  This will ensure           
 that products produced in an approved plant would not be denied               
 their place in the market, due to a minor technicality."                      
                                                                               
 Number 427                                                                    
                                                                               
 GERALD MASOLINI, Owner/Operator, Eyak Packing, testified via                  
 teleconference from Cordova, in support of HB 208.  He thanked both           
 Representative Moses and his aide, Cheryl Sutton, for all the work            
 they have done.                                                               
                                                                               
 Number 439                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHUCK JENSON, East Point Seafoods, testified via teleconference               
 from Kodiak, in full support of HB 208.  He stated, "Harmonizing              
 these state regulations with the federal regulations does nothing             
 but make sense."                                                              
                                                                               
 Number 461                                                                    
                                                                               
 RICK LAUBER, Lobbyist, Pacific Seafoods Processor Association,                
 testified in support of HB 208.  He remarked, "Not only is this a             
 good bill for processors and fishermen, but it's also a very good             
 bill for the public."  He added, "We won't have to conform to a               
 multitude of regulations.  One of our big problems has been                   
 conforming with foreign nations and the various treaties and trade            
 agreements."                                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 494                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS commented that he likes this bill.                       
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE MOSES commented in jest, that we should just go                
 ahead and move the committee substitute out now.                              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN made referrals to the General Agreement on                
 Trade and Tariffs (GATT) and the North American Free Trade                    
 Agreement (NAFTA) and how these policies relate to this bill.                 
                                                                               
 Number 507                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN again indicated that HB 208 would be held.