NewJerseyGrocer_2017_Issue2_Final1

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

“In march, the Senate Environment committee passed a package of bills pertaining to food waste, including two food donation bills that we support.”

When the Legislature resumes its usual legislative schedule in May, we expect work to continue on several issues important to our industry. In March, the Senate Environment Committee passed a package of bills pertaining to food waste, including two food donation bills that we support. These bills provide expanded liability protections for businesses that donate food which is unsaleable, but which is still safe for human consumption, and allow

New Jersey gross income tax deductions for charitable contributions of food made from business inventory due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, or other conditions. We have been strongly opposing legislation which establishes a state based standard for food date labeling. Our partners at the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocers Manufacturers Association recently announced that their members would be implementing

a voluntary standardized and simplified label system prior to the summer of 2018. This action by the industry will eventually lead to only two standard labels which can be clearly understood by the consumer. While New Jersey Senate Environment Chair Bob Smith amended his original bill to adopt the industry’s standard language and compliance date, we remain opposed to a state patchwork of laws, and have relayed our position to legislative leadership.

Give your business more than canned solutions. Whether it’s questions about payment card data compliance, cybersecurity, tax incentives, or transaction services, our industry expertise means you spend more time on what matters and less time educating us on your business. Put our knowledge to work for you. WWW.MOSSADAMS.COM/ RE TA IL

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