Environment Committee

JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT

SPONSORS OF BILL:

Environment Committee

REASONS FOR BILL:

This bill makes changes to the State's laws regulating eggs or “shell eggs” for human consumption. The changes bring the state regulations for quality into compliance with federal regulations promulgated under the federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetics Act, the Nutritional Labeling and Education Act, and the Egg Inspection Act. Additional changes independent of federal law include proper storage procedures and temperatures. The legislation also describes out the powers and jurisdictions of the Commissioners of Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Put simply, Agriculture oversees production and processing of eggs while Consumer Protection manages eggs from the wholesale stage forward. The legislation also establishes registration procedures for egg-handling businesses, procedures to request administrative hearings on license revocation and rights to appeal the decisions of such hearings to the judiciary.

SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE: The agency requested that additional language be added that was “inadvertently” left out. Specifically subsections c-g under Section 8 establishes a registration procedure for egg producers and an appeals process to settle grievances.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Steven Reviczky, Commissioner of Agriculture: Supports: The commissioner opened his testimony noting the clarifications the bill provides between the jurisdiction of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection departments. He notes that Consumer Protection has reviewed the bill and has no objection. Right now, the commissioner said, many of these responsibilities are legally with Consumer Protection's purview, but as a practical matter, they defer to Agriculture. His testimony also notes that regulation of egg-producing farms with less than 3000 birds is undertaken by the State rather than the US Department of Agriculture. The commissioner also outlined how eggs are graded and noted that on smaller farms this is done by hand, rather than machine. While the State regulations largely mimic the federal ones, the State needs to update its regulations and provide better oversight to the distribution chain. The commissioner also describes the fee structure of the registration regime in the bill. Additional language the commissioner requested was incorporated into the bill.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

Henry Talmadge, Exec. Dir. Connecticut Farm Bureau Assoc.: The Connecticut Farm Bureau Association offered support for the bill without qualification. The association's executive director did make note of the bill's clarification of agency jurisdiction.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

None Submitted