“To provide for the protection of the integrity of honey marketed in the United States, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a standard of identity for honey, in accordance with applicable United States Pharmacopeia standards, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act. (Standards of identity under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act define the common or usual name of a food and its required or optional ingredients to promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.)
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress, not later than two years after the date of enactment, a report on enforcement actions taken under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to (1) honey that is adulterated under section 402 of such Act, and (2) honey that is misbranded under section 403 of such Act.
This section establishes the Honey Integrity Program to detect economically motivated adulteration—defined as practices intended to increase a food's value that render it adulterated under FDCA section 402 (21 U.S.C. 342)—in honey introduced into interstate commerce. The program requires each qualifying commercial honey packer—defined as any packer paying assessments to the National Honey Board under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411 et seq.), excluding those meeting Secretary-specified criteria—beginning 180 days after enactment to (1) test honey intended for the U.S. market using best available methods including nuclear DNA testing, mitochondrial DNA testing, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry; (2) certify compliance and no knowledge of adulterated honey traded; and (3) report results and any adulteration identification to the Secretary within 24 hours, refusing receipt of such honey. Upon receiving an adulteration alert, the Secretary must investigate, confirm via federal labs, destroy adulterated honey, and share data with federal, state, and local enforcement (including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and USDA) and stakeholders such as domestic producer associations. The Secretary must publish and distribute an updated list of qualifying packers (including exclusions); consult with CBP, USDA, and others on testing protocols; and use interagency labs and resources as needed. Qualifying packers must pay Secretary-specified fees (authorized to equal amounts needed and remain available until expended, subject to appropriations).