A Kauai County Council committee clashed Monday with representatives of seed companies over the disclosure of the types and use of pesticides.

The Economic Development, Sustainability, Agriculture & Intergovernmental Relations Committee heard testimony on Bill 2491, which would regulate pesticide use and genetically modified crops by agribusinesses.

"I don’t want to comply with the bill as is," said Steve Lupkes of BASF Corp.

Councilman Gary Hooser, an author of the bill, questioned the lack of direct answers by company representatives on his standing inquiry about the type of pesticides they use.

"How do you have a community discussion without the facts?" he asked. "I need to know. The community needs to know what is going on."

The committee deferred a vote on the bill until Sept. 27 for further review.

The daylong meeting, which was streamed online, ended shortly after 9:15 p.m. Committee members heard testimony from county and state officials, the community and officials from large farms. Council Chairman Jay Furfaro and Councilman Tim Bynum also attended, although they are not on the committee.

Councilman Mel Rapozo addressed concerns raised by residents, schools and hospitals on public health and the environment.

"What are the companies willing to disclose?" Rapozo asked. "How far can you go to accommodate their needs?"

Seed companies said the issue would be best addressed by directly meeting with the community.

Affected by the measure are seed companies Syngeta, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Pioneer, BASF Corp. and Kauai Coffee, the largest coffee grower in the state.

The bill would require disclosure of pesticide use; create pesticide-free buffer zones around schools, hospitals and homes; and prohibit open-air testing of experimental pesticides until the county conducts an environmental impact statement.

Wayne Katayama, president and general manager of Kauai Coffee, said the company wants to work with the community to address and settle worries on health and environmental concerns.

That proposal won approval from activist Walter Ritte, who flew to Kauai from Molokai to testify in support of the bill. He agreed seed companies need to meet with the community, but that can’t happen unless there’s trust.

"There is absolutely no trust right now," he said.

Councilwoman JoAnn Yuki­mura proposed to delete the section that sets up a permitting process for large agribusinesses that work with genetically modified organisms.

Yukimura said she is concerned about the capability of the county’s Department of Public Works to oversee permits relating to GMOs because they lack knowledge in the area. "They have no expertise," she said.

Hooser and co-introducer Bynum disagreed with Yuki­mura, saying it’s too early to eliminate the permitting section from the bill.

About 4,000 people wearing red T-shirts marched in Lihue on Sunday in support of the proposed bill. Organizers described it as the largest march in isle history.

About 70 people packed the Council chambers Monday to testify before the committee. Speakers were set up outside the historic County Building so bill supporters as well as opponents, reportedly more than 300 people in blue T-shirts, could hear Monday’s meeting.