House BIll 5005 - Mason County
A program (Program) is created within the WSDA to certify and market cattle from Washington as either Washington-certified natural beef cattle or Washington-certified natural grass-fed beef cattle. To qualify as Washington-certified natural beef cattle (Natural Cattle), cattle must be born and raised in Washington and raised and finished in compliance with the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) voluntary marketing standard for naturally raised livestock and meat products. The USDA standard requires that cattle: (1) be raised without growth hormones or antibiotics, and (2) have never been fed animal by-products. To qualify as Washington-certified natural grass-fed beef cattle (Grass-Fed Cattle), cattle must meet the requirements of Natural Cattle and be raised and finished in compliance with the USDA voluntary marketing standard for grass-fed livestock and meat products. In order to be labeled, sold, or represented as beef from either Natural Cattle or Grass-Fed Cattle, the beef must have been harvested from cattle certified under standards established under the Program. The WSDA is directed to adopt rules regarding Program certification standards and fees. Specifically, the WSDA must adopt rules that require cattle owners to maintain cattle birth and health records, and require the WSDA to conduct at least one inspection of the farm or ranch of origin. In addition, the WSDA must adopt rules that establish fees to recover the costs of providing certification, inspection, and other services related to administering the Program. The WSDA must also include the promotion of the Program in its agricultural product marketing programs. Funds collected for the Program must be paid to the Director of the WSDA (Director), deposited into an account within the Agricultural Loan Fund, and used solely for carrying out the purposes of the Program. The Director has the authority to enter and inspect, at a reasonable time determined by the Director, any facility or records required under the Program. The Director may also take any samples necessary to determine whether any provisions of the Program or rules adopted under it have been violated. The Director may bring an action to enjoin a violation of the Program's provisions in Thurston County Superior Court or the superior court of any county where a violation occurs. Any person who violates the Program's provisions or rules may be subject to: (1) a civil penalty up to $500 for each violation; and (2) denial, revocation, or suspension of any certification issued under the Program. "Person" in this context means any human being, firm, partnership, exchange, association, trustee, receiver, or corporation, and any member, officer, employee or assignee of any of these entities. Once a person receives notice from the Director to deny, revoke, or suspend a certification, the person may request an administrative hearing.
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