Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/24/1995 03:38 PM Senate RES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SRES - 4/24/95
HB 208 SEAFOOD PROCESSING STANDARDS
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought up HB 208 as the next order of business
before the Senate Resources Committee. The chairman called the
sponsor's representative to testify.
Number 267
CHERYL SUTTON, Aide to Representative Moses, prime sponsor of HB
208, relayed information contained in the sponsor statement. HB
208 will coordinate state regulations with federally mandated FDA
(Food & Drug Administration) regulations for plans of operation for
seafood processing facilities. Ms. Sutton submitted a partial list
of supporters of HB 208 to the committee. HB 208 has a zero fiscal
note. Ms. Sutton informed the committee that she has received
unanimous support on the bill from everyone who has contacted her
about it.
Number 322
JANICE ADAIR, Department of Environmental Conservation, testifying
from Anchorage, stated the department worked with the sponsor of HB
208 on drafting the bill. DEC supports HB 208.
Number 335
DOUG DONEGAN, Vice President of Trident Seafoods, testifying from
Yakutat, stated Trident Seafoods strongly supports HB 208.
[Teleconference transmission is poor during Mr. Donegan's
testimony.]
Number 353
GREG FAVRETTO, FAVCO, testifying from Anchorage, stated he supports
HB 208. Mr. Favretto thinks HB 208 will be helpful to the seafood
industry.
Number 360
HERB ECKMANNS, Alaska Sausage Co., testifying from Anchorage,
stated he supports HB 208.
HAROLD THOMPSON, President of Sitka Sound Seafoods, testifying from
Sitka, stated SSS supports HB 208.
DICK STOCKARD, Regional Manager for Tyson Seafoods, testifying from
Kodiak, stated Tyson Seafoods supports HB 208.
Number 370
HAP SYMMONDS, OBSI, testifying from Cordova, states OBSI supports
HB 208. He thinks it is good to see the state recognize that
simplification of regulations is needed.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked Ms. Adair if DEC will be monitoring when
federal regulations will go into effect, so the state can implement
concurrent regulations.
Number 380
MS. ADAIR responded that DEC is in almost daily contact with the
FDA, and will be monitoring federal implementation of regulations.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked when HB 208 will go into effect.
MS. ADAIR replied it will not be in effect for this summer's
fishing season. It is expected that the regulations will be
published approximately by the end of this calendar year, and the
implementation process will take about a year.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked how that time frame will affect state
implementation.
MS. ADAIR responded the state will have to adopt the federal
regulations by referencing. It is DEC's intent to do so as quickly
as possible.
Number 394
SENATOR TAYLOR asked if Alaska is going to a lower level, or a
different standard, to be more compatible with what the rest of the
world is doing.
Number 399
MS. ADAIR responded that the department does not see HB 208 as a
roll-back of the requirements, but as a change in focus. HB 208
will be a proactive tool in ensuring safe seafood products.
Number 420
KIT BALLENTINE, Section Chief, Environmental Sanitation Development
Section, Department of Environmental Conservation, clarified that
the existing plan of operation focuses on food safety, sanitation,
and economic fraud. HB 208 would separate critical control points
in seafood processing. Processors will still have to keep a clean
plant, but they will not have to provide written plans to DEC. It
is not a diminution of standards; it will streamline the process
for processors.
Number 437
SENATOR TAYLOR is troubled to hear that Alaska's standards will be
higher than those of the FDA.
MS. BALLENTINE responded that our standards will be exactly the
same.
Number 453
COLIN BRAMHALL, Norquest Seafoods, testifying from Cordova, stated
Norquest supports HB 208.
Number 457
SYLVIA LANG, Owner of Cannery Row, testifying from Cordova, stated
she supports HB 208. The present process is overwhelming and
onerous.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked Ms. Lang what volume of seafood her company
processed last year.
Number 468
MS. LANG replied that her company processed almost 3 million pounds
last year.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN noted that the committee just passed a bill out of
committee Friday which would help companies that process under
30,000 pounds per year.
MS. LANG responded that her company also encourages direct
marketing of seafood by fishermen.
Number 481
GERALD MASOLINI, Owner of Eyak Packing Co., testifying from
Cordova, stated he supports HB 208. He has been canning salmon
since 1983, and every year there is more paperwork. It seems now
as though he spends a good deal of his time doing paperwork, before
he can begin to do the real work.
Number 492
SENATOR TAYLOR noted that he has yet to hear someone who is not
complaining about the amount of paperwork. He thinks we should go
further than HB 208 to reduce the burden placed on the seafood
processing industry.
Number 519
SENATOR FRANK wishes there was more support for the regulatory
problems the mining industry faces.
Number 547
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called an at ease at 4:21 p.m., so the committee can
get a quorum.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called the Senate Resources Committee back to order
at 4:35 p.m.
SENATOR HALFORD made a motion to discharge HB 208 from the Senate
Resources Committee with individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, stated HB 208 was discharged
from committee with individual recommendations.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|