S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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1071
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 23, 2009
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Introduced by Sen. KRUGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to requir-
ing warning labels on certain foods which present a choking hazard to
children under four years of age
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
section 214-o to read as follows:
S 214-O. WARNING LABELS ON CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS. 1. IF ANY PERSON,
FIRM, CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP, ASSOCIATION OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS ASSO-
CIATION SELLS OR DISPLAYS FOR RETAIL SALE POPCORN, CHEWING GUM, HARD
CANDIES, RAISINS, PEANUT BUTTER, NUTS OR SEEDS MEANT FOR USE AS HUMAN
FOOD, THE PACKAGING OF SUCH FOOD SHALL BEAR A WARNING LABEL AS
PRESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION WHICH SHALL BE PRINTED THEREON OR ATTACHED
THERETO. SUCH WARNING LABEL SHALL BE IN LETTERS NOT LESS THAN EIGHT
POINT TYPE AND IN A COLOR IN CONTRAST WITH THE PACKAGE CONTAINING THE
SUPPLEMENT, AND SHALL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "WARNING: THIS
PRODUCT IS A CHOKING HAZARD TO CHILDREN UNDER FOUR YEARS OF AGE."
2. ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION OR ITS OFFICERS OR
AGENTS WHO OR WHICH VIOLATE ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR ANY
RULES OR REGULATIONS PROMULGATED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE LIABLE FOR
A CIVIL PENALTY OF NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH DAY SUCH
ENTITY IS IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND POWER TO PRESCRIBE BY
REGULATIONS THE LABELING OF THE FOOD PRODUCTS IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
SECTION WHICH ARE NOT SOLD BY PACKAGE OR CONTAINER.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the commissioner of
agriculture and markets is authorized and directed to promulgate any
rules or regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act
before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.