HI SCR167

Board of Agriculture must review and update the import permit process for all agricultural commodities and submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2019 Regular Session convening.

Review must consider updating Plant Quarantine Branch administrative rules to reflect current industry conditions, adopting a risk-based import framework for aquaculture and expanding it to all import categories, developing best management practices for all agriculture industries, and updating import permit lists using risk assessments.

Resolution identifies outdated provisions including protections for the non-viable pineapple industry in Hawaii Administrative Rules sections 4-70-12 and 4-70-13(a) that do not reflect current agricultural status.

Resolution notes reports of delays in aquaculture import permits exceeding maximum time periods established in section 4-71-4.1, Hawaii Administrative Rules, despite provisions for automatic approval if the Department fails to act within established timeframes.

Certified copies of the resolution must be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Branch Chief of the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture.