Bill Text: CA AB2066 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 2066

CA State Legislature page for AB2066

Bill Title: The California Food Safety Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-16 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2066 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2066-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly May 08, 2024

Amended IN Assembly April 18, 2024

Amended IN Assembly April 08, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2066

Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes

February 01, 2024

An act to add Section 109027 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to food.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2066, as amended, Reyes. The California Food Safety Act.

Existing law, the California Food Safety Act, prohibits a person or entity from manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale in commerce a food product for human consumption that contains a specified substance, including, among others, red dye 3.

This bill, commencing January 1, 2027, would require a person or entity using methylene chloride in the process of decaffeinating coffee, or selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale in commerce coffee that has been decaffeinated in a process using methylene chloride to label the final coffee product with a clear and conspicuous label disclosing that methylene chloride was used in the decaffeination of the product. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $10,000 for each subsequent violation, upon an action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, a county counsel, or a district attorney.
This bill would require the Office of Environmental Health Hazzard Assessment to conduct a study on the health impacts of the consumption of methylene chloride. The bill would require the office to update its no significant risk level and its maximum allowable level of methylene chloride by January 1, 2026.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 109027 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

109027.
(a) The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall conduct a study on the health impacts of the consumption of methylene chloride, including in cases where elements of methylene chloride remain in decaffeinated coffee.
(b) By January 1, 2026, the office shall update its no significant risk level and its maximum allowable level of methylene chloride.

SECTION 1.Section 109027 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
109027.
(a)Commencing January 1, 2027, a person or entity that uses methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane, in the process of decaffeinating coffee, or sells, delivers, distributes, holds, or offers for sale in commerce coffee that has been decaffeinated in a process using methylene chloride, shall label the final coffee product with a clear and conspicuous label stating: “Methylene chloride is used in the decaffeination of this product.”
(b)(1)Upon an action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, a county counsel, or a district attorney, a person or entity that violates subdivision (a) shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a first violation, and not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each subsequent violation.
(2)This section does not impair or impede any other rights, causes of action, claims, or defenses available under any other law. The remedies provided in this section are cumulative with any other remedies available under any other law.