Honey Integrity Act

Legislative Summary: Honey Integrity Act (S. 1028)

Overview

The Honey Integrity Act (S. 1028) is a legislative proposal introduced in the 119th Congress to protect the quality and purity of honey sold within the United States. The primary goal of the bill is to combat "economically motivated adulteration"—the practice of diluting or substituting honey with cheaper substances to increase profits—which undermines domestic producers and misleads consumers.

Key Provisions

1. Establishment of Standards and Reporting

• Standard of Identity: Within one year of enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (via the FDA) must establish a formal "standard of identity" for honey, aligned with United States Pharmacopeia standards.
• Congressional Reporting: Within two years, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress detailing enforcement actions taken against adulterated or misbranded honey.

2. The Honey Integrity Program

The bill creates a new regulatory framework called the Honey Integrity Program. Key requirements include:
* Mandatory Testing: 180 days after enactment, "qualifying commercial honey packers" must conduct rigorous testing on honey intended for the U.S. market.
* Advanced Scientific Methods: Testing must utilize the "best available science," including:
* Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA testing.
* Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
* High-resolution mass spectrometry.
* Certification: Packers must certify to the Secretary that they have complied with testing requirements and have no reason to believe they are trading in adulterated honey.

3. Enforcement and Compliance

• Rapid Reporting: If a packer identifies economically motivated adulteration, they must report it to the Secretary and law enforcement within 24 hours and refuse the shipment.
• Federal Action: Upon receiving an alert, the Secretary is authorized to investigate and destroy adulterated honey (following confirmation by a Federal laboratory).
• Inter-Agency Cooperation: The FDA will coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). If the FDA lacks resources, CBP and USDA must provide the necessary laboratory support.

Who is Affected?

• Qualifying Commercial Honey Packers: Specifically, those who pay assessments to the National Honey Board. These entities will be responsible for conducting tests, reporting results, and paying fees associated with the program.
• Consumers: Will benefit from increased transparency and a guarantee that honey marketed as "pure" meets scientific standards.
• Domestic Honey Producers: Will gain protection against foreign or domestic adulterated honey that artificially lowers market prices through fraud.

Timeline and Procedural Aspects

• 180 Days: Testing and certification requirements for packers begin.
• 1 Year: Deadline for establishing the honey standard of identity.
• 2 Years: Deadline for the Secretary to report enforcement actions to Congress.
• Funding: The program will be funded through fees collected from qualifying commercial honey packers.

Definition of Key Term

Economically Motivated Adulteration: Defined as the practice of intentionally removing valuable ingredients, substituting ingredients, or adding substances to food to increase its value, thereby making the food adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.