PRINTER'S NO. 2044
No. 1605 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY DeLUCA, COHEN, GIBBONS, BELFANTI, COSTA, CURRY,
GEORGE, HARKINS, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MILLARD, MYERS,
M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, SHIMKUS, TANGRETTI AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JUNE 21, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
JUNE 21, 2007
AN ACT
1 Requiring expiration dates to be printed on the packaging of
2 edible food products.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Labeling of edible food products.
6 The expiration date, or last day that the contents may be
7 consumed safely, shall be printed on the packaging of each
8 edible food product that is sold at retail.
9 Section 2. Sales of outdated products.
10 If a retailer deems the product contained in an outdated
11 package to be safe, the retailer may offer it for sale under an
12 in-store sign notifying the public that the product is outdated
13 but still offered for sale even though its expiration date has
14 occurred. The wording on the in-store sign shall be in at least
15 24-point type.
16 Section 3. Consumer's recourse.
1 A consumer may, if deemed necessary, report a retailer who
2 fails to comply with section 1 or 2. He may file a report with
3 either the district attorney of the situs county or with the
4 Bureau of Consumer Protection within the Office of Attorney
5 General.
6 Section 4. Enforcement.
7 The Department of Agriculture shall notify food retailers of
8 this act.
9 Section 5. Penalty.
10 A retailer who fails to comply with this act shall be subject
11 to a fine of $50 per each occurrence. An occurrence shall be
12 deemed to occur when an outdated item is offered for sale
13 without a notice being provided in accordance with section 2.
14 Section 10. Effective date.
15 This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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