H.P. 718 - L.D. 1008
An Act to Require Labeling of Fruits and Vegetables to Identify Country of Origin
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §524-A is enacted to read:
§524-A. Produce packed in State
When produce that was grown or raised in a foreign country is packed in this State, the label must identify the country in which the produce was grown in letters as large or larger than the letters identifying the name and place of business of the packer.
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §530, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 527, §1, is amended to read:
1. Label required. Fresh produce imported from a foreign country must be labeled in accordance with this section in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of Maine citizens from the dangers of pesticides used or applied in a manner or at a rate disallowed in the United States.
A. Fresh produce sold or offered for retail sale in this State that was grown or raised in a foreign country designated by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources by rule under subsection 2 must be identified by labeling with the country of origin as provided in paragraphs B to D.
B. Except as provided in paragraph D, each item of fresh produce offered for retail sale as an individual unit must be individually labeled in accordance with subsection 3.
C. Except as provided in paragraph D, fresh produce packaged in consumer units must be labeled in accordance with subsection 3 and section 524-A. For purposes of this section, banana and grape clusters are a consumer unit.
D. Fresh produce that is not labeled in accordance with paragraph B or C may be sold at retail if the labeling information required by subsection 3 appears on a bin label or placard contiguous to the produce being displayed for retail sale or on the original shipping container if it contains the produce offered for sale.
Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §530, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 527, §1, is repealed.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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