HR2162-119

What This Bill Does

The Honey Integrity Act attacks economically motivated adulteration in the honey market. Within one year, HHS must establish a standard of identity for honey consistent with U.S. Pharmacopeia standards. Within two years, HHS must report to Congress on enforcement actions involving adulterated or misbranded honey. The bill also creates a Honey Integrity Program: beginning 180 days after enactment, qualifying commercial honey packers must test honey intended for the U.S. market using best available science, certify that the honey complies with the standard and is not adulterated, report adulteration within 24 hours, and refuse adulterated shipments. HHS must investigate, test, destroy confirmed adulterated honey, publish lists of qualifying and excluded packers, and share data with CBP, USDA, law enforcement, stakeholders, and domestic producer associations.

Who Benefits and How

Domestic honey producers benefit because adulterated honey is more likely to be detected, refused, destroyed, and excluded from the U.S. market. Consumers benefit from a federal standard of identity and testing program that reduces the chance of mislabeled or adulterated honey. Honest commercial honey packers benefit if competitors using adulterated supply face testing, certification, and enforcement. CBP officers benefit from shared testing data that can support border enforcement against adulterated honey. Domestic producer associations benefit from HHS data sharing about enforcement and adulteration trends.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Qualifying commercial honey packers must test honey, certify compliance, report adulteration within 24 hours, and refuse adulterated product. FDA food safety staff must establish the identity standard, run the Honey Integrity Program, investigate reports, and coordinate testing resources. USDA laboratory staff may need to support honey testing through shared federal resources. Adulterating honey suppliers bear the risk that confirmed adulterated honey will be refused, destroyed, and reported. Honey packers may pay program fees if appropriations law permits fee collection.

Key Provisions

• Directs HHS to establish a standard of identity for honey within one year.
• Requires an HHS report to Congress on adulterated or misbranded honey enforcement within two years.
• Creates a Honey Integrity Program for testing, certification, reporting, investigation, and destruction of adulterated honey.
• Requires qualifying commercial honey packers to report adulteration within 24 hours and refuse adulterated shipments.
• Allows HHS to use CBP and USDA laboratories and resources for honey testing and enforcement.