At 10:45 PM 6/24/96 +0000, you wrote:
> [snip]
>>
>>Until there are some labeling laws enacted, there are no illegal labeling
>>but most of us small beekeepers are into a market that will can be ruined by
>>deceptive labeling.
>>
>>Frank Humphrey
>>[log in to unmask]
>>Frank Humphrey
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
>Hi Frank;
>
>        Each individual Country and State has consumer laws, however on the
>International markets the point of sale is th legal requirements that the
>supplier has to meet, as any infringement of these laws means loss of your
>business, as the fines are from $100,000 for a register busines.
>
>        In the International honey markets the terms natural, raw and
>organic are the terms to mean it is a natural product that has not had any
>additives introduced into its packaging or in simple terms no adulteration
>of the honey.
>
>        The other side of the coin is that if the honey has any foreign
>matter, these same laws come into effect as the consumer has the right to
>claim that it has been tampered with or contaminated. As there are many law
>suites in progress under these circumstances, which no beekeeper can afford
>to be involved in.
>
>        I am responding to your email, but am taking the time to answer all
>the beekeepers, that it is their responsability to filter their honey, and
>preserve their product, for all markets, and for the customer.
>
>                                Brian Goble PhD
>                                Ecology Research Centre
>Thanks from :
>                        [log in to unmask]
>                 http://www.eastend.com.au/~goble
>            [log in to unmask] ( David Goble )
>           American Beach Kangaroo Island South Australia
>
Hi Brian
 
You are missing the point altogether.  By your definition I can heat my
honey, then filter it to the point that it has very little color and no
pollen, then label it as natural honey so long as it is not contaminated or
adulterated.  This is basically true in the USA.  Some states are beginning
to set some standards for grades of honey.
 
My point is that under present law highly processed honey can be and is
labeled as raw honey.  That is the point.  We have laws that carry stiff
penalties for selling adulterated or contaminated honey.  What we do not
have are laws that define what is raw, or what is natural, what is filtered
etc.  This is what needs to be resolved so that the consumer knows what he
or she is buying, real raw honey or a product that has been so processed
that it barely resembles honey.
 
Frank Humphrey
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Frank Humphrey
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