Permitting beekeepers who meet certain requirements to sell packaged honey and honeycombs without holding a food establishment or food processing plant license under the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act.
Impact
The bill's passage would enable hobbyist and small-scale beekeepers to engage more easily in commercial activities without the burden of regulatory compliance typically associated with larger food establishments. By permitting these exempt sales, the legislation supports the local agriculture economy, particularly for those who produce honey and honey-related products. Furthermore, it recognizes the contribution of small-scale producers to local food systems and economic development, potentially increasing honey availability in local markets.
Summary
House Bill 2158, introduced by Representative Schmoe, seeks to amend the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act by allowing beekeepers to sell packaged honey and honeycombs without the need for a food establishment or food processing plant license. This bill aims to support local beekeepers by simplifying regulatory requirements, enabling them to sell their products directly to consumers. The legislation is intended for beekeepers whose annual gross sales from these products do not exceed $50,000 and who comply with specific labeling and packaging regulations.
Contention
While the bill has garnered support from beekeeping associations, concerns may arise from food safety advocates who worry that reducing regulatory oversight could compromise food safety standards. The bill specifies that beekeepers must package honey on their property and maintain records of sales, which aim to mitigate potential food safety issues. However, proper enforcement and compliance could be points of contention, especially regarding how the Kansas Department of Agriculture will monitor exemptions and inspect operations when violations are observed.
Permitting beekeepers who meet certain requirements to sell packaged honey and honeycombs without holding a food establishment or food processing plant license under the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act.
Exempting charitable raffle prizes of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages from the Kansas liquor control act, the club and drinking establishment act and the Kansas cereal malt beverage act; amending the spirits, wine and beer distributors law regulating samples; requiring monthly remittance of gallonage taxes regarding special order shipping of wine; allowing businesses to sell cereal malt beverage by the drink on Sundays without requiring that 30% of the gross receipts of such businesses be derived from the sale of food; permitting food establishments to allow dogs in outside areas on the premises and food establishments that are microbreweries to allow dogs in outside and inside areas on the premises notwithstanding certain provisions of the Kansas food code; amending the common consumption area law to permit rather than require roads be blocked and allowing designation of such areas by signage.
Providing sales tax exemptions for certain food and food ingredients and for the construction or repair of buildings used for human habitation by the Kansas state school for the blind and the Kansas state school for the deaf and repealing the state rate reduction for sales of certain food and food ingredients.
Establishing a farm to food bank program to expand the availability of Kansas agricultural food products for the state of Kansas' emergency food system.
Regulating the sale and distribution of kratom products, requiring the secretary of agriculture to adopt rules and regulations and requiring licensure of kratom product dealers.
Permitting food establishments to allow dogs in outside areas and microbreweries to allow dogs in outside and inside areas, allowing microbreweries to sell beer with a limited alcohol content as cereal malt beverage.
Creating the Kansas medical cannabis act to authorize the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and use of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products and the Kansas cannabidiol regulation act to regulate the testing and retail sale of cannabidiol products.
Broadening the scope of practice of naturopathic doctors and changing certain provisions pertaining to the licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors.
Establishing a 0% state rate for sales and use taxes for food and food ingredients, providing a sales tax exemption for children's diapers and feminine hygiene products, establishing the STAR bonds food sales tax revenue replacement fund, altering the calculation for STAR bond districts and discontinuing the food sales income tax credit.
Permitting beekeepers who meet certain requirements to sell packaged honey and honeycombs without holding a food establishment or food processing plant license under the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act.
Public health and safety; Home Bakery Act of 2013; home food establishments; homemade food products; Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; beekeepers; effective date.