WILD MUSHROOM REQ'S; EXEMPT MORELS H.B. 5532:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 5532 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Triston Cole
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Food Law to exempt morel mushrooms from requirements pertaining to mushrooms picked in the wild.
Subject to various modifications, the Law incorporates by reference Chapters 1 through 8 of the Food Code, 2009 Recommendations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States Public Health Service. (The Food Code is a model act representing the FDA's recommended best practices for addressing food safety and the regulation of food establishments.)
Section 3-201.16(a) of the Food Code specifies that, except as otherwise provided, mushroom species picked in the wild must be obtained from sources where each mushroom is individually inspected and found to be safe by an approved mushroom identification expert. Under Section 3-201.16(b), however, those requirements do not apply to 1) cultivated wild mushroom species that are grown, harvested, and processed in an operation that is regulated by the food regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the operation (in Michigan, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development); or 2) wild mushroom species if they are in packaged form and are the product of a food processing plant that is regulated by the food regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the plant.
Under the bill, Section 3-201.16(b) also would apply to morel mushrooms (excluding morel mushrooms from the requirements of Section 3-201.16(a)).
MCL 289.6101 Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.