[On hold] - Food Standards for Belief Purposes

[Simone]

On hold pending discussions on concerns over separation of church and state.

The World Assembly (WA),

Affirming its longstanding interest in freedom of beliefs (such as GARs 561, 635) and in food labeling laws;

Noting that some inhabitants of WA states may refrain from eating some food prepared in certain ways due to dietary restrictions due to their own cultures or belief systems;

Desiring clear standards, labeling and monitoring of food products in order to facilitate international trade;

The WA hereby enacts as follows:

1. Definitions.
   1. "Authority" means one or more government entities designated by a WA state as in charge of formulating and enforcing this resolution.
   2. "Designated labeling” means any claims made on the packaging or labeling of any product that it satisfies the dietary restrictions (defined in clause 3 below).
   3. "Designated facilities” means any production facilities for products required to meet any dietary restrictions.
   4. "FDRA” means the Food and Drug Regulatory Agency.
   5. "Food” means anything farmed, grown, or developed for consumption by a sapient individual.
   6. "Inhabitants” means any sapient inhabitant(s) of any WA state.
   7. "Products" means any pre-packaged food.
2. Declarations. The WA hereby declares that it fully respects:
   1. Any dietary restrictions voluntarily observed by inhabitants;
   2. Any decisions made by each authority regarding their interpretation of teachings from their beliefs and cultural practices in accordance with the laws and preferences of each WA state;
   3. Variations between WA states in how they observe certain dietary restrictions, even if two WA states claim to have the same belief systems.
3. Standards of dietary restrictions. The definition and standards for observing various dietary restrictions is set out by each authority, such as (merely as examples), standards on:
   1. Ingredients used to make a product, and whether such ingredients are separated (such as meat and dairy);
   2. Processes used to cultivate, raise or otherwise develop the ingredients;
   3. Methods and procedures used in the process of slaughtering certain animals to make a product;
   4. Handling the specific tools, appliances or facilities used to prepare, process, transport or store such foods, such as segregation, preparation, cleaning or storage;
   5. Any religious ceremonies that must be performed as part of the process of food preparation;
   6. Training methods required to ensure that workers that engage in preparing such foods are experienced and knowledged in the aforesaid restrictions.
4. Defining dietary restrictions.
   1. Each authority is responsible for defining dietary restrictions and standards (including the stringency and interpretation of such standards) for enforcement for that WA state depending on the belief systems, cultures, and practices of that WA state.
   2. Each authority is responsible for enforcing its own standards, such as conducting testing of products or inspection of designated facilities.
   3. Each authority is also to determine if its own standards are compatible to that of other authorities from other WA states, taking into account potential variations in the exact restrictions required between different WA states.
5. Labels.
   1. Labels claiming that certain products as satisfying the standards on dietary restrictions of a particular WA state can only be displayed on a certain product and distributed as such in that state if approved by the authority of that state.
   2. The same restrictions also apply to all marketing materials for the said product.
   3. It is up to each authority to determine if food imported from a non-WA state complies with clauses (3), (4) and (5) of tis resolution.
6. FDRA database.
   1. The FDRA is to maintain a database of all dietary restrictions standards from all WA states as per the preceding clauses as well as all designated labelling as authorized by each WA state.
   2. The FDRA is also to maintain, to the extent possible, labels from non-WA states and labelling requirements and standards from non-WA states, to facilitate trade.
   3. The said database is to be available conveniently through physical and electronic means and free of charge to all inhabitants of WA states.
7. FDRA verification.
   1. If a product that claims compliance with certain dietary restrictions standards are exported from one WA state to another WA state, the importing state has the right to request from time to time that the FDRA inspects and tests such products as well as inspect the designated facilities to verify the claims made by the exporting state.
   2. The FDRA’s role is to independently verify the designated labeling claims. It is up to the importing state whether it accepts the claims, determines whether standards are compatible, or if it imposes its own labeling requirements on the product as a result of the FDRA’s verification.