Hawaii-2021-HCR83-Introduced

WHEREAS, only fifteen percent of Hawaii's food supply is grown locally, and the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan identifies the goal of doubling local food production by 2030; and

WHEREAS, due to Hawaii's remote location and reliance on imported food, Hawaii's food security is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and disruptions of shipping and food supply; and

WHEREAS, by replacing only ten percent of the food Hawaii currently imports, an estimated $313,000,000 would remain in the State; and

WHEREAS, in many nations and regions around the world, rabbit meat is a widely consumed, commercially-available protein source; and

WHEREAS, rabbits have a high rate of reproduction, early maturity, rapid growth rate, high genetic selection potential, efficient feed and land space utilization, and high-quality nutritious meat; and

WHEREAS, rabbit meat is lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories than beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and turkey, with comparable protein levels; and

WHEREAS, developing a rabbit meat industry in Hawaii may contribute positively to Hawaii's sustainability goals, allow for increased food self-sufficiency, and support economic development and more diverse product lines for Hawaii ranchers; and

WHEREAS, demand for rabbit meat in the United States is gradually increasing due to growing demand from restaurants and consumers interested in sustainable and exotic meats; and

WHEREAS, producers on the island of Hawaii are successfully cultivating rabbits for subsistence consumption, but the lack of a regulatory framework that would allow for the commercial sale of the rabbit meat prevents them from establishing a viable business selling rabbit meat; and

WHEREAS, according to title 9 Code of Federal Regulations part 354 entitled "Voluntary Inspection of Rabbits and Edible Products Thereof", the United States Department of Agriculture does not require the federal Food Safety and Inspection Service to inspect the slaughter of rabbits, and the inspection is voluntary and subject to fees and charges by the Food Safety and Inspection Service; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health, pursuant to section 11‑50-31(g)(1), Hawaii Administrative Rules, allows for the sale of game animals, including mammals such as rabbits, that are commercially raised for food; provided they are raised, slaughtered, and processed under a voluntary inspection program conducted by the agency that has animal health jurisdiction, or a routine inspection program conducted by a regulatory agency other than the agency with animal health jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, currently, there is no United States Department of Agriculture voluntary inspection program in Hawaii, and there is no comparable state voluntary inspection program for the inspection of rabbit meat for commercial sale; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has no routine inspection program for game animals that allows rabbit meat producers to commercially sell their product as an approved food source under the Department of Health's administrative rules; and

WHEREAS, establishing a state voluntary inspection program that would meet the federal requirements is costly and would require additional state funds, personnel, and facilities; and

WHEREAS, establishing a routine inspection program for game animals under state agencies may also be cost-prohibitive; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health has previously amended section 11-50-31(g)(4), Hawaii Administrative Rules, to allow for the commercial sale of field-dressed wild game animals; provided that the animals receive a postmortem examination by an approved veterinarian or veterinarian's designee; and

WHEREAS, the lack of a clear and specific process for the inspection of rabbits commercially raised for food is a deterrent for producers to cultivate rabbits for intrastate commerce; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is urged to amend its administrative rules to allow for the commercial sale of rabbit meat for consumption; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to consider adopting a rule similar to section 11‑50‑31, Hawaii Administrative Rules, that would allow for the commercial sale of rabbit meat for consumption; provided that the rabbit herd receives inspections by a veterinarian who holds a valid license to practice in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is urged to consider including other game animals, as defined in section 11-50-2, Hawaii Administrative Rules, in its amended rules; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, and Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Rabbit Meat; Department of Health; Administrative Rules; Commercial Sale; Consumption

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	83
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII