H.B. 5071 (H-3): COMMITTEE SUMMARY - FALSE LABELING OF FOOD ORIGIN


House Bill 5071 (Substitute H-3 as passed by the House)

Sponsor: Representative Mark Schauer

House Committee: Agriculture

Senate Committee: Farming, Agribusiness, and Food Systems


Date Completed: 5-13-98


CONTENT


The bill would amend the Michigan Food Law to prohibit a person from falsely identifying a country, state, or other place of origin of food on a label, tag, or other document with intent to deceive or defraud. A person who violated this provision would be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than four years and/or a fine of up to $2,000. The bill specifies that this prohibition would take effect March 1, 1998.


Currently, a person who violates the Act's prohibitions against manufacturing, selling, delivering, or receiving adulterated or misbranded food is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of at least $100 but not more than $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days. The bill would increase the maximum imprisonment to 93 days.


MCL 289.707 & 289.710 - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim


FISCAL IMPACT


The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


- Fiscal Analyst: K. Firestone

- G. CutlerS9798\S5071SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.