§486-120.6 Hawaii-grown and Hawaii-processed coffee; labeling or advertising requirements. (a) In addition to all other labeling requirements, the identity statement used for labeling or advertising roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages produced in whole or in part from Hawaii-grown and Hawaii-processed green coffee beans shall meet the following requirements:
(b) A listing of the geographic origins of the various Hawaii-grown and Hawaii-processed coffees and the regional origins of the various coffees not grown or processed in Hawaii that are included in a blend shall be shown on the label. This list shall consist of the term "Contains:", followed by, in descending order of per cent coffee by weight and separated by commas, the respective geographic origin or regional origin of the various coffees in the blend. Each geographic origin or regional origin shall be preceded by the per cent coffee by weight represented by that geographic origin or regional origin, expressed as a number followed by the per cent sign. In place of separate listings of regional origins of coffee not grown or processed in Hawaii in the blend, the list may include the words "Foreign-grown Coffee", preceded by the per cent coffee by weight in the blend. The type size used for this list shall be no less than half that of the identity statement. This list shall appear below the identity statement on the front panel of the label.
(c) The requirements of subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to the labeling of any inner package or inner wrapping of the roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages that includes any geographic origin of Hawaii-grown and Hawaii-processed coffee, regardless of whether the inner package or inner wrapping is intended to be individually sold.
(d) It shall be a violation of this section to:
(e) Retailers that do not package roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages shall not be liable for the sale of roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages that use a label or advertisement in violation of this section.
(f) Roasters, manufacturers, or other persons who package roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages covered by this section shall maintain, for a period of two years, records on the volume and geographic origin or regional origin of coffees purchased, sold, and used and any other records required by the department for the purpose of enforcing this section. Authorized employees of the department shall have access to these records during normal business hours.
(g) As used in this section:
"Geographic origin" means the geographic regions in which Hawaii-grown green coffee beans are produced, as defined in rules adopted under chapter 147; provided that the term "Hawaiian" may be substituted for the geographic origin "Hawaii".
"Per cent coffee by weight" means the percentage calculated by dividing the weight in pounds of roasted green coffee beans of one geographic or regional origin used in a production run of roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages by the total weight in pounds of the roasted green coffee beans used in that production run of roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages, and multiplying the quotient by one hundred.
"Ready-to-drink coffee beverage" means a prepackaged beverage that consists of or includes coffee and is sold in a prepared form that can be immediately consumed upon purchase. "Ready-to-drink coffee beverage" does not include made-to-order beverages. [L 1991, c 289, §2; am L 1995, c 103, §1; am L 2002, c 258, §1; am L 2011, c 49, §2; am L 2023, c 211, §2; am L 2024, c 198, §2]