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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 12, 2013 01:27 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Robert F. Matzie |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Standard of Identity for Honey |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that will amend the Honey Sale and Labeling Act to create regulations establishing a standard of identity for honey. In 1985, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the fifth issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Extracted Honey under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, which allows for the development of official U.S. grades to designate levels of quality. Such standards are to be used by producers, suppliers, buyers and consumers. However, the standards for grades of extracted honey in place today are strictly voluntary. Furthermore, investigations have shown that some honey producers do not comply with the voluntary standards and often market adulterated honey products that include sweeteners or antibiotics. Consumers might walk away with the highest-quality honey or an adulterated blend. The problem is that both might state on the label that the product is “pure honey”, since there is no enforced standard of identity for honey. To that effect, this legislation will require the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to create regulations to establish a standard of identity for honey to apply for all honey manufactured, sold, kept for sale or exposed or offered for sale in the Commonwealth. In establishing the standard, the Secretary will be required to utilize the Codex Standard for Honey approved and adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint program of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Codex Standard for Honey applies to honey intended for consumption and for industrial uses or as an ingredient in other foods. Therefore, it should be of great assistance to the Secretary of Agriculture when establishing a new standard of identity for honey manufactured or sold within the Commonwealth. It is my hope that this measure will ensure the purity and quality of all honey manufactured or sold in this Commonwealth. |
Introduced as HB1704