HI SB131

Requires all food and raw agricultural commodities sold in Hawaii containing or produced with genetically engineered material to bear a disclosure label in bold-face, ten-point type stating "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATERIAL, OR WAS PRODUCED WITH A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATERIAL," effective January 1, 2016.

Defines food as produced with genetically engineered material if the organism was treated with genetically engineered material, the animal was fed genetically engineered material, or the food contains an ingredient meeting these criteria; excludes manure used as fertilizer from this definition.

Exempts food served in restaurants, food prepared and ready for consumption in retail establishments, and medical foods as defined in section 346-67 from labeling requirements.

Establishes violations punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense and authorizes the director of health to adopt rules for testing foods to determine presence and content of genetically engineered material.

Defines "genetically engineered organism" as organisms altered at molecular or cellular level through techniques like recombinant DNA, gene deletion, or cell fusion, but excludes breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, and mutagenesis.