HI HB463

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a food safety certification training program in partnership with Hawaii's agricultural community to assist small to medium sized farms (with less than $500,000 in annual food sales) in obtaining USDA Good Agricultural Practices certification or equivalent.

Appropriates $150,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2019-2020 to implement the food safety certification training program.

Addresses Hawaii's importation of 92% of its food supply and compliance challenges with the 2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which has compliance deadlines in 2019-2020 for small farms.

Aims to prevent farm closures, preserve small diversified farming businesses, increase local food production by reducing compliance costs, and improve food safety standards across Hawaii's 3,682 farms (90% of which are small to very small operations).

Takes effect on July 1, 2019.