“A bill 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. (A standard of identity under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act specifies the common or usual name, required and optional ingredients, and other characteristics a food must possess 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 enactment of this Act, 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 that Act (21 U.S.C. 342); and (2) honey that is misbranded under section 403 of that Act (21 U.S.C. 343).
This section establishes the Honey Integrity Program to detect economically motivated adulteration (i.e., practices such as substituting ingredients or adding substances to increase a food's value, rendering it adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) in honey introduced into interstate commerce. Beginning 180 days after enactment, it requires each qualifying commercial honey packer (i.e., those paying assessments to the National Honey Board under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996, excluding any the Secretary determines) 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 in a combined protocol; (2) certify compliance and no belief in trading adulterated honey; and (3) report results and, if adulteration is identified, notify the Secretary and law enforcement within 24 hours while refusing receipt of such honey. Upon receiving adulteration alerts, the Secretary must investigate, confirm via federal labs, destroy adulterated honey, and share data with federal, state, and local agencies (including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and USDA) and stakeholders such as domestic producer associations. The section further directs the Secretary to publish and distribute an updated list of qualifying packers (including exclusions); consult with interagency partners on testing protocols and access their labs and resources if needed; assess fees on packers (available until expended, subject to appropriations); and define key terms.