Hi All,

Beekeepers everywhere owe Floridian Nancy Gentry ("Nancy Gentry" <
[log in to unmask]>) a big thanks for her efforts in getting the first
Standard of Identity for Honey in the U.S. passed!

Californians--be sure to write to Arnold to request that he sign the bill on
his desk for the same in California.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 13, 2009

BRONSON ANNOUNCES NATION'S FIRST REGULATION BANNING ADDITIVES IN HONEY

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner
Charles H. Bronson today announced that his department has instituted the
first regulation in the nation - and perhaps the world - prohibiting any
additives, chemicals or adulterants in honey that is produced, processed or
sold in Florida.  The regulation, which takes effect July 14, provides the
first-ever "Standard of Identity" for honey.

"We want to assure consumers that the product that they are buying is pure,"
Bronson said.  "Too often in the past, honey has been cut with water or
sugar, and sometimes even contaminated with insecticides or antibiotics.  In
the future, when you're paying for honey in this state, pure honey is what
you will get."

State Rep. Alan Hays, of Umatilla, has been a major advocate of the new
regulation, which is supported by Florida's honey industry, and joined
Bronson at a press conference here today to unveil the new rule.

"I am pleased that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services is leading the way for all America in establishing this standard by
which all honey may now be measured," Hays said.  "Commissioner Bronson and
the leaders of the honey industry - beekeepers and honey processors - are to
be applauded for their leadership in protecting not only the health of
Floridians but also in protecting this industry which is so vital to the
production of food products for all mankind."

Under terms of the new regulation, honey containing anything other than the
"natural food product resulting from the harvest of nectar by honeybees" is
considered an adulterated or mislabeled product.  Such products are subject
to a "stop sale" order in which a manufacturer, processor or merchant would
be served with an order prohibiting the product's sale.  Repeat offenders
would face fines of up to $500 per violation.

Florida is the fourth-leading honey producing state in the country with cash
receipts to beekeepers of more than $15 million in 2008 and an industry that
has an economic impact estimated at $40 million a year.  It employs more
than 500 Floridians.

As a result of a flood of adulterated honey from overseas into Florida in
2006, a petition was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) later that year by five major honey producers and processors, asking
the federal agency to establish a U.S. standard of identity for honey.  Two
years later, the FDA responded that due to other pressing matters, it would
be unable to review the petition.

At that point, the industry asked Bronson's department if it would consider
developing a standard of identity for the product, and today's announcement
is the culmination of that effort.

Bronson noted that despite efforts in various quarters, international
governing bodies have to date been unable to establish an international
definition of or standard of identity for honey, making it likely that
Florida's regulation governing honey may be the first of its kind anywhere.

DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO THIS EMAIL.
DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO:
Terence McElroy
mailto:[log in to unmask]
(850) 488-3022

Liz Compton
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