From [log in to unmask] Tue Aug 04 20:52:26 1998
Newsgroups: sci.agriculture.beekeeping
Subject: US Honey Tax Changes
From: [log in to unmask] (Andy Nachbaur)
Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 03:52:26 GMT
 
AMS News Release
Release No. AMS-211-98
Carol Blake (202) 720-8998
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Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
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USDA SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR AMENDING HONEY PROMOTION PROGRAM
WASHINGTON, July 31, 1998--The U.S. Department of Agriculture is
seeking proposals for amendments to the Honey Research, Promotion, and
Consumer Information Order. The order is a set of regulations which
govern the honey research and promotion program. Amendments to the
order are needed as a result of recent changes to the act authorizing
the program.
 
Dr. Enrique E. Figueroa, administrator of USDA's Agricultural
Marketing Service,  a marketing and regulatory agency, said any person
affected by the honey program may submit proposals to implement one or
more of the amendments to the act. The act was amended on June 23 to:
require the National Honey Board to  reserve 8 percent of its funds
annually  for beekeeping and production research; authorize the board
to conduct projects -- including developing  recommendations for
purity standards and a quality assurance regulatory  program -- to
enhance the image of honey and honey products;  add the requirement
that 50 percent of the board members be domestic   producers;
double handler representation on the board by adding two handler
members who are also importers; change nomination procedures and
eligibility requirements for importers;  eliminate the public member
position on the board;  decrease the producer assessment from 1 cent
per pound to 0.75 cents per pound;  add an assessment of 0.75 cents
per pound on handlers;  increase the assessment from 1 cent per pound
to 1.5 cents per pound on imports; and  change voting requirements for
referenda.
 
Once the proposals are received, they will be published in the Federal
Register for public comment. Honey producers, handlers, and importers
will then vote in a national referendum on whether the amendments
should be incorporated into the order. If the amendments are not
approved, the assessment would remain at the current rate of 1 cent
per pound on both domestic and imported honey. Proposals should
include detailed provisions with an explanation of the purpose
of each provision. Cross-referenced provisions should refer to the
caption or number of the referenced provision.
 
Additional suggestions to further the implementation of the amendments
may be sent with the proposals or separately.
 
Proposals and suggestions must be received by Sept. 30. Send them in
triplicate to the Research and Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2535-South, Stop
0244, Washington, D.C. 20250-0244, tel. (202) 720-9915, fax (202)
205-2800.
 
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