HP0289, LD 363, item 2, Document Text

Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:

‘Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1862, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 110, §1, is further amended to read:

1. Beverage. "Beverage" means beer, ale or other drink produced by fermenting malt, spirits, wine, hard cider, wine coolers, soda or noncarbonated water and all nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drinks in liquid form and intended for internal human consumption, except for unflavored rice milk, unflavored soymilk, milk and , dairy-derived products , apple cider and drinks containing 25% or more by volume of juice from wild blueberries.

Sec. 2. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to review regulation of food production. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall review state laws and rules pertaining to the small-scale production and processing of food and beverages in the State for sale in the State. The department shall develop recommendations to reduce the regulatory burden on small-scale agricultural producers and small-scale food processors. For purposes of this legislation a small-scale agricultural producer or small-scale food processor is one who employs 10 or fewer people. The department may further define "small-scale agricultural producers" and "small-scale food processors" or other terms appropriate for clarifying to whom the exemptions and less burdensome standards would apply. The department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no later than February 1, 2012. The department concurrently shall submit legislation necessary to implement its recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature.’

summary

This amendment is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It exempts apple cider and juice drinks containing 25% or more by volume of juice from wild blueberries from the provisions of the beverage container law in Title 32, chapter 28. The bill proposes exempting fruit and juice beverages produced in Maine by agricultural producers from the provisions of the beverage container law.

It also narrows the scope of the directive to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to review laws and rules for their impact on small-scale food producers and small-scale food processors only. It extends the time period allowed for the department to complete its review.

HP0289 LD 363	First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature C "A", Filing Number H-346, Sponsored by		LR 809 Item 2
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