H.C.R. 135 Summary

• Urges the Department of Health to amend administrative rules to allow commercial sale of rabbit meat for consumption in Hawaii.

• Requests the Department of Health consider adopting rules similar to section 11-50-31, HAR, allowing commercial rabbit meat sales provided rabbit herds receive inspections by a Hawaii-licensed veterinarian.

• Encourages the Department of Health to consider including other game animals, as defined in HAR section 11-50-2, in amended rules.

• Cites Hawaii's food security vulnerabilities, sustainability goals to double local food production by 2030, and that rabbit meat is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, chicken, pork, and turkey.

• Identifies that current federal voluntary inspection programs and state inspection requirements are cost-prohibitive barriers preventing Hawaii producers from commercially selling rabbit meat.