S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 4724--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 5, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. COLTON, ENGLEBRIGHT, JAFFEE, ABINANTI, SCHIMEL,
  BLAKE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.  of  A.  RIVERA  --  read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation -- recommitted
  to  the  Committee  on  Environmental  Conservation in accordance with
  Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation  to  the
  reduction and recycling of packaging

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
the "environmentally sound packaging act".
  S  2.  Legislative  findings  and  declaration. The legislature hereby
finds and declares that a solid waste crisis exists in New  York  state,
and  that  the amount of solid waste requiring disposal has continued to
increase. The legislature further finds  that  over  thirty  percent  of
municipal  solid waste is comprised of packaging, that the production of
packaging has more than doubled in the last twenty years, and that  this
portion  of  the  municipal  solid  waste  stream could be significantly
reduced through source reduction and material changes  to  increase  the
reusability,  recycled content, and recyclability of such packaging. The
legislature further finds that the reduction of packaging waste and  the
success of municipal recycling is dependent on greatly increasing demand
for  post-consumer  materials  in  the  manufacturing  sector, that this
demand is very limited at present, and attributable to a lack of  incen-
tives for manufacturers to increase the reusability, recycled content or
recyclability  of  their  packaging,  with no federal or state standards
applied to packaging based on such  attributes  or  the  lack  of  same.
Therefore,  the legislature finds and determines that there is a need to
reduce packaging in the solid waste stream, by requiring that all  pack-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06526-03-6

              

A. 4724--A                          2

aging sold in New York state meet certain standards for reduction, reus-
ability, recycled content, or recyclability.
  S  3.  The  environmental  conservation law is amended by adding a new
section 27-0721 to read as follows:
S 27-0721. PACKAGING REDUCTION AND RECYCLING.
  1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SECTION: (A) "CONCENTRATE FORM"  SHALL
MEAN  A PRODUCT SOLD IN A CONCENTRATED FORM THAT IS ONE-THIRD OR LESS OF
THE VOLUME OF THE PRODUCT IN ITS INTENDED USE FORM.
  (B) "ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PACKAGING" SHALL  MEAN  PACKAGING  THAT  IS
REDUCED OR REUSABLE OR RECYCLED OR RECYCLABLE.
  (C)  "INTERMEDIATE  PACKAGE"  SHALL  MEAN  A  WRAP, BOX OR BUNDLE THAT
CONTAINS TWO OR MORE UNIT PACKAGES OF IDENTICAL ITEMS, AND THAT  MAY  BE
ENCLOSED BY A SHIPPING CONTAINER.
  (D) "MANUFACTURER" SHALL MEAN A PERSON, FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP
OR CORPORATION ENGAGED IN THE PRODUCTION OF PACKAGING.
  (E)  "MATERIAL" SHALL MEAN ANY SUBSTANCE FROM WHICH PACKAGING IS MADE,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAPER, GLASS, PLASTIC, AND METAL  OR  ANY
COMBINATION THEREOF.
  (F) "PACKAGER" SHALL MEAN:
  (I)  FOR  PACKAGING  IN WHICH PRODUCTS ARE PLACED PRIOR TO THEIR ENTRY
INTO THE STATE, THE PACKAGER IS THE PERSON WHO  RECEIVES  TITLE  TO  THE
SHIPMENT  BEFORE  OR  UPON  ENTRY  INTO THE STATE; PROVIDED THAT IF SUCH
PERSON IS THE PURCHASER IN A RETAIL SALE INVOLVING DIRECT SHIPMENT  FROM
OUTSIDE THE STATE, THEN THE PACKAGER IS THE SELLER;
  (II) FOR PACKAGING IN WHICH A PRODUCT IS PLACED WITHIN THE STATE PRIOR
TO  THE  SALE  OF THE PRODUCT, THE PACKAGER IS THE PERSON WHO PLACES THE
PRODUCT IN SUCH PACKAGING;
  (III) FOR PACKAGING PROVIDED BY A RETAIL SELLER TO A PURCHASER AT  THE
POINT OF PRODUCT DELIVERY, THE PACKAGER IS THE RETAIL SELLER.
  (G)  "PACKAGING"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  CONTAINER  USED TO PROTECT, STORE,
CONTAIN, TRANSPORT,  DISPLAY  OR  SELL  PRODUCTS.  PACKAGING  SHALL  NOT
INCLUDE  ANY  DETACHABLE CLOSURE DEVICE SUCH AS A CAP, CLIP, COVER, LID,
TAB, OR TAMPER RESISTANT CONTRIVANCE.
  (H) "PERSON" SHALL MEAN  ANY  INDIVIDUAL,  TRUST,  FIRM,  JOINT  STOCK
COMPANY,  CORPORATION,  PARTNERSHIP, OR ASSOCIATION, INCLUDING THE STATE
OF NEW YORK AND ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
  (I) "PRODUCT" MEANS ANY COMMODITY DESTINED  FOR  WHOLESALE  OR  RETAIL
SALE.
  (J)  "RECYCLABLE"  SHALL  MEAN  PACKAGING MADE OF A MATERIAL FOR WHICH
EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS ARE MET, AS DETERMINED BY THE  DEPART-
MENT:
  (I) ACCESS TO MUNICIPAL RECYCLABLE RECOVERY PROGRAMS FOR THAT MATERIAL
IS  AVAILABLE  TO NO LESS THAN SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF
THE STATE;
  (II) A STATEWIDE RECYCLING RATE OF FIFTY PERCENT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED FOR
THE PACKAGING MATERIAL; OR
  (III) A MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR OR  RETAILER  ACHIEVES  A  STATEWIDE
RECYCLING RATE OF FIFTY PERCENT FOR THE PACKAGE SOLD WITHIN THE STATE.
  PACKAGING  COMPOSED  OF  MORE  THAN  ONE TYPE OF MATERIAL SHALL NOT BE
CONSIDERED RECYCLABLE UNLESS EACH MATERIAL IN THE PACKAGING THAT REPRES-
ENTS MORE THAN AN INSUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE PACKAGING MEETS ONE OF THESE
STANDARDS.
  (K) "RECYCLED" SHALL MEAN  PACKAGING  MADE  WITH  SECONDARY  MATERIALS
CONTENT,  WHICH  MEETS THE RECYCLED CONTENT STANDARDS SPECIFIED IN REGU-
LATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF
SECTION 27-0717 OF THIS TITLE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WITHIN FIVE YEARS

A. 4724--A                          3

OF  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, RECYCLED SHALL MEAN A MINIMUM OF
FORTY-FIVE PERCENT BY  WEIGHT  OF  POST-CONSUMER  RECYCLED  CONTENT,  AS
DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
  (L)  "REDUCED"  SHALL  MEAN  PACKAGING THAT IS EITHER REDUCED AT LEAST
FIFTEEN PERCENT BY WEIGHT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PACKAGING USED FOR  THE
SAME  PRODUCT  BY THE SAME PACKAGER FIVE YEARS EARLIER OR PACKAGING THAT
MEETS A MINIMUM EFFICIENCY  RATIO  OF  NINETY  PERCENT  PRODUCT  TO  TEN
PERCENT PACKAGING BY WEIGHT, WHEN MEASURED AS THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF THE
INTERMEDIATE  PACKAGE AND THE UNIT PACKAGE IF THE PRODUCT IS CONVEYED TO
THE CONSUMER IN MULTIPLE LAYERS OF  PACKAGING,  PROVIDED  HOWEVER,  THAT
PACKAGING  EXEMPTED  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION SHALL
NOT BE INCLUDED IN SUCH MEASUREMENT. IN NO CASE MAY PACKAGING  REDUCTION
BE  ACHIEVED  BY THE SUBSTITUTION OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL CATEGORY FOR A
MATERIAL THAT CONSTITUTED A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE PACKAGING  IN  QUES-
TION.
  (M)  "RETAIL  SALE" SHALL MEAN ANY SALE TO A PURCHASER FOR CONSUMPTION
OR USE OTHER THAN RESALE OR FURTHER PROCESSING OR MANUFACTURING.
  (N) "REUSABLE" SHALL MEAN PACKAGING THAT IS DESIGNED FOR REFILLING  OR
REUSE  A MINIMUM OF FIVE TIMES IN A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY A MANUFACTUR-
ER, DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER FOR REFILLING OR REUSE OF THE PACKAGING.
  (O) "SHIPMENT" SHALL MEAN PACKAGED PRODUCTS CONVEYED BY TRUCK OR OTHER
MEANS OF TRANSPORT, AND ACCOMPANIED BY AN INVOICE.
  (P) "SHIPPING CONTAINER" SHALL MEAN PACKAGING THAT IS USED IN COMMERCE
FOR PACKING, STORING, AND SHIPPING PRODUCTS.
  (Q) "UNIT PACKAGE" SHALL MEAN A PACKAGE WHICH CONTAINS A SINGLE  ITEM,
A  QUANTITY  OF  THE  SAME ITEM, A SET OR AN ITEM WITH ALL ITS COMPONENT
PARTS.
  2.  ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PACKAGING. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION
THREE OF THIS SECTION, NO PACKAGER SHALL USE OR CAUSE  TO  BE  USED  ANY
PACKAGING  THAT  IS  NOT  ENVIRONMENTALLY  SOUND PACKAGING AFTER JANUARY
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN.
  3. EXEMPTIONS. (A) THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF PACKAGING SHALL BE  UNCONDI-
TIONALLY EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION:
  (I)  PACKAGING  WHICH IS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH FOOD PRODUCTS, AND HAS
NOT RECEIVED PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINIS-
TRATION TO INCORPORATE RECYCLED CONTENT  IN  SUCH  PACKAGING,  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  SUCH  PACKAGING  ALSO  DOES  NOT  COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS AS
DEFINED IN THIS SECTION FOR REUSABLE OR REDUCED OR RECYCLABLE;
  (II)  PACKAGING  ASSOCIATED  WITH  DRUGS,  DRUG  PRODUCTS,  COSMETICS,
MEDICAL  FOOD  AND MEDICAL DEVICES, AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED UNDER THE
FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG AND COSMETIC ACT AND REGULATIONS  PROMULGATED  THERE-
UNDER;
  (III) PACKAGING ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTS OFFERED FOR SALE IN A CONCEN-
TRATE FORM;
  (IV)  PACKAGING FOR PRODUCTS DESTINED FOR EXPORT FROM THE STATE IF THE
PACKAGING IS NOT SEPARATED FROM THE PRODUCT BEFORE EXPORT;
  (V) THOSE PACKAGES OR PACKAGING COMPONENTS WHICH HAVE  BEEN  DELIVERED
TO  A  PACKAGER PRIOR TO JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN; AND THOSE
PACKAGES OR PACKAGING COMPONENTS WITH A CODE INDICATING DATE OF MANUFAC-
TURE THAT WERE MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY FIRST, TWO  THOUSAND  NINE-
TEEN;
  (VI)  PACKAGING  ASSOCIATED  WITH  RETAIL SALES OF USED MERCHANDISE BY
INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS SUBSEQUENT TO INITIAL RETAIL SALE;
  (VII) PACKAGING ASSOCIATED WITH SALES OF FOOD PRODUCTS BY OR ON BEHALF
OF A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, IF SUCH CORPORATION HAS  ESTABLISHED  A

A. 4724--A                          4

PATTERN,  OVER A PERIOD EXCEEDING TWENTY YEARS, OF RELYING ON SUCH SALES
FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ITS FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
  (B)  EVERY  PACKAGER  SEEKING A CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN APPLICATION  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  AND
SHALL  PAY  AN  APPLICATION FEE, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SUFFI-
CIENT TO MEET ONLY THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF  THIS
SUBDIVISION.
  (C)  PURSUANT  TO RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT,
THE COMMISSIONER MAY GRANT A CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION FROM ANY  REQUIREMENT
OF  THIS  SECTION  IF  HE  OR  SHE DETERMINES THAT THE REQUIREMENT, WHEN
APPLIED TO A PARTICULAR TYPE OF PACKAGING, WOULD IMPOSE  UNDUE  HARDSHIP
ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  A  PACKAGER  APPLYING FOR A CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH
SHALL BEAR THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN  ESTABLISHING  UNDUE  HARDSHIP.  UNDUE
HARDSHIP SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY PROVIDING CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE
THAT THERE IS NO ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PACKAGING AVAILABLE FOR THAT TYPE
OF PRODUCT OR THE PACKAGING IS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH HEALTH OR SAFETY
LAWS  AND  THERE  IS  NO  ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PACKAGING AVAILABLE THAT
COMPLIES WITH THOSE HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS. EXEMPTIONS GRANTED  PURSUANT
TO THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED FIVE YEARS.
  (D)  WITHIN  THIRTY  DAYS  AFTER  THE  RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION FOR A
CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH A NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC  COMMENT  ON
THE  APPLICATION,  AND SHALL ACCEPT WRITTEN COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR
SIXTY DAYS THEREAFTER. BEFORE  GRANTING  A  CONDITIONAL  EXEMPTION,  THE
DEPARTMENT  SHALL  MAKE A WRITTEN FINDING OF UNDUE HARDSHIP. THE DEPART-
MENT SHALL MAIL WRITTEN NOTICE OF ITS  DETERMINATION  TO  THE  APPLICANT
WITHIN  ONE  HUNDRED  TWENTY  DAYS  AFTER  THE RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION AND SHALL PUBLISH A NOTICE
OF SUCH DETERMINATION.
  4. LABELING REQUIREMENTS. (A) ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO  THOUSAND
NINETEEN,  EVERY PACKAGER SHALL ENSURE THAT THE WORDS "COMPLIES WITH NEW
YORK STATE PACKAGING LAW," OR ABBREVIATIONS THEREOF, ARE AFFIXED TO  ALL
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PACKAGING. THE PRESENCE OF SUCH STATEMENT ON PACK-
AGING  SHALL  INDICATE THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF SUCH PACKAGING CERTIFIES
THAT THE PACKAGING IS REDUCED, REUSABLE, RECYCLED, RECYCLABLE OR  EXEMPT
FROM  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  THIS  SECTION. USE OF THIS STATEMENT ON ANY
OTHER PACKAGING SHALL CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
  (B) FOR PURPOSES OF INTERMEDIATE OR UNIT PACKAGING CONTAINING  ONE  OR
MORE  LAYERS,  ONLY ONE COMPLIANCE LABEL IS REQUIRED, WHICH SHALL APPEAR
ON THAT PORTION OF THE PACKAGED  PRODUCT  VISIBLE  TO  THE  CONSUMER  AT
RETAIL SALE.
  5.  REGULATIONS. ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN,
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY  OUT
THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  SECTION.  SUCH  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  (A) REQUIREMENTS FOR PACKAGERS  TO  DEMONSTRATE  COMPLIANCE  WITH  THE
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PACKAGING STANDARDS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDI-
VISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT
OF PACKAGER COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE STANDARDS BY THE DEPARTMENT;
  (B)  A METHODOLOGY FOR THE CALCULATION OF RECYCLING RATES FOR MATERIAL
USED IN RECYCLABLE PACKAGING, INCLUDING THE CONDITIONS AND  CRITERIA  TO
BE  MET  BY  A  PACKAGER  SEEKING  TO QUALIFY A PACKAGE AS RECYCLABLE BY
COMPOSTING SUCH MATERIAL; AND
  (C) PROCEDURES FOR DEPARTMENT REVIEW OF EXEMPTIONS  UNDER  SUBDIVISION
THREE OF THIS SECTION.

A. 4724--A                          5

  6.  REPORTS  ON  RECYCLING  RATES.  BY  APRIL  FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE  GOVER-
NOR  AND  THE  LEGISLATURE  STATING THE RECYCLING RATES FOR THE PREVIOUS
CALENDAR YEAR FOR THE TYPES OF MATERIALS USED  IN  PACKAGING,  ASSESSING
THE  LEVELS OF POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE
OF PACKAGING, AND REVIEWING THE STATUS  OF  REUSABLE  PACKAGING  IN  THE
STATE.  FOR RECYCLABLE PACKAGING, THE REPORT SHALL SPECIFY THOSE MATERI-
ALS WHICH QUALIFY AS RECYCLABLE PURSUANT TO EACH CRITERION SET FORTH  IN
PARAGRAPH (J) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
  7.  ENFORCEMENT  AND VIOLATIONS. (A) THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND
MARKETS OR THE DEPARTMENT OR, IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION
OR MORE, THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, MAY INSPECT  PACKAG-
ING  TO  DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND. IF, ON THE BASIS
OF SUCH INSPECTION, A DETERMINATION IS MADE  THAT  ANY  PACKAGER  IS  IN
VIOLATION  OF  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION
PROMULGATED THEREUNDER, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS OR THE
DEPARTMENT, OR, IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE,  THE
DEPARTMENT  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, MAY ISSUE AN ORDER REQUIRING COMPLIANCE
OR ISSUE NOTICE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT HEARING, OR BOTH.  ONLY
ONE  SUCH  AGENCY   SHALL ISSUE SUCH ORDER, NOTICE, OR HOLD A HEARING ON
ANY ONE VIOLATION. THE PACKAGER SHALL BE  GIVEN  AN  OPPORTUNITY  TO  BE
HEARD DURING ANY SUCH HEARING.
  (B) AS DETERMINED BY A CIVIL OR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING, ANY PERSON WHO
VIOLATES  ANY  OF  THE  PROVISIONS  OF, OR WHO FAILS TO PERFORM ANY DUTY
IMPOSED BY THIS SECTION OR ANY RULE  OR  REGULATION  PROMULGATED  THERE-
UNDER,  OR  ANY  FINAL DETERMINATION OR ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS OR THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPART-
MENT, OR IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, THE  CITY'S
DEPARTMENT  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY NOT
TO EXCEED FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH UNIT PACKAGE WHICH IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, OR FIVE HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR  EACH
INTERMEDIATE  PACKAGE  OR  SHIPPING CONTAINER WHICH IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED THAT NO PERSON SHALL PAY A
PENALTY IN EXCESS OF TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR  ANY  ONE  SHIPMENT  OF
PACKAGING.  IN  CONSIDERING  THE AMOUNT OF THE PENALTY TO BE IMPOSED FOR
EACH VIOLATION, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OR  THE  COMMISSIONER
OF  THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS OR THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS SHALL  CONSIDER  ANY  EVIDENCE  PRESENTED
REGARDING  THE  FOLLOWING FACTORS: COST, SIZE, WEIGHT OF THE PRODUCT AND
PACKAGE, COMPLIANCE HISTORY OF THE VIOLATOR, AND ANY OTHER FACTORS WHICH
JUSTICE REQUIRES.
  (C) ANY PERSON MAY COMMENCE A CIVIL ACTION IN  SUPREME  COURT  AGAINST
ANY  PACKAGER WHO IS ALLEGED TO BE IN VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS
SECTION OR ANY REGULATION PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. NO  SUCH
ACTION MAY BE COMMENCED:
  (I)  PRIOR  TO SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE PLAINTIFF OR PLAINTIFFS HAVE GIVEN
NOTICE OF THE VIOLATION TO THE ALLEGED VIOLATOR, THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL,
THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS AND, IN A CITY WITH A POPU-
LATION OF ONE  MILLION  OR  MORE,  THE  CITY'S  DEPARTMENT  OF  CONSUMER
AFFAIRS; OR
  (II)  IF  THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL,  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF AGRICULTURE AND
MARKETS, OR, IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE  MILLION  OR  MORE,  THE
CITY'S  DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS COMMENCED A CIVIL OR ADMINIS-
TRATIVE ACTION TO REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISION  OR  REGULATION;
OR

A. 4724--A                          6

  (III)  IF  AN  ALLEGED  VIOLATOR  HAS  A  PENDING  APPLICATION  FOR AN
EXEMPTION FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
  THE  COURT, IN ISSUING ANY FINAL ORDER IN AN ACTION COMMENCED OR MAIN-
TAINED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION,  MAY  AWARD  COSTS  OF  LITIGATION,
INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY AND EXPERT WITNESS FEES, TO ANY PREVAILING
COMPLAINANT.
  (D) NO PACKAGER OF A PRODUCT WILL BE HELD IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION
WHO  CAN SHOW THAT, IN THE PURCHASE OF A PACKAGE OR PACKAGING COMPONENT,
HE OR SHE RELIED IN GOOD FAITH ON THE LABEL OF THE MANUFACTURER ON  SUCH
PACKAGING OR PACKAGING COMPONENT THAT SUCH PACKAGING OR PACKAGING COMPO-
NENT  EITHER  COMPLIED  WITH OR WAS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
SECTION.
  (E) NO PACKAGER WHO IS ENGAGED IN RETAIL  SALE  OF  FOOD  PRODUCTS  ON
BEHALF OF A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION WILL BE HELD IN VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION  UNLESS  SUCH  PACKAGER  IS  AN  EMPLOYEE OF SUCH CORPORATION OR
UNLESS SUCH PACKAGER ACTS KNOWINGLY AND IN BAD FAITH.
  S 4. Severability. The provisions of this act shall be severable,  and
if any part of this act shall be held invalid, the remainder of this act
and the application thereof shall not be affected thereby.
  S 5.  This act shall take effect immediately.