What follows are the organic honey standards from an outfit called Quality
Assurance International. Their Web page describes them thus:
"Quality Assurance International is a private, professional service
corporation developed specifically for the purpose of verifying the
authenticity of food, fiber and other products which are organically grown
under a management policy of sustainable agriculture; and which are handled
under goals preserving the integrity created in the organic commodity."
www.qai-inc.com

6.7.  HONEY STANDARDS

6.7.1.  Bee-Stock Sources

    While pedigree of the bees is not crucial to organic honey production,
their handling in a manner that prevents contamination of future organic
honey crops with residual honey or bee feed from non-compliant sources is
crucial.

6.7.1.1.  Acceptable sources of bees include:
· Colonies in existing organic hives;
· Colonies confined to brood chambers only covered by a queen excluder;
· Divided colonies from conventional hives on brood combs only;
· Package bee colonies;
· Nucleus colony (“nucs”);
· Captured wild or migratory swarms on brood comb only.

        The use of colonies that have combs containing existing honey
produced from nectar collected from non-complying foraging areas is
prohibited.

6.7.2.  Principal Feed Source Areas

    Organic honey must be produced by naturally foraging colonies that are
located at least 2 miles distant, in straight-line flight, from any pollution
source which could cause the honey to become contaminated by, or as a result
of, returning foraging bees (e.g. synthetic-chemical sprayed agriculture,
industrial centers, urban centers, etc.).

    A detailed map of all forage areas is required from all applicants.

6.7.3.  Feed Supplements

    Each bee-keeper is required to have a supplemental feeding plan, if
starvation is imminent.  This would include planning for sources of honey,
sugar, syrup, fruit concentrate or other food source for non-flow periods.

    If the hives are moved to non-compliant nectar and pollen sources, any
organic honey must be removed before the hives are moved.  In addition, the
first honey extracted after the re-entry period back to the compliant apiary
location must be treated as conventional honey.

    The use of non-compliant feed supplements during honey flow is prohibited.

6.7.4.  Health-Care Practices

    Bottom boards may be scraped routinely to remove accumulations of wax and
other debris that serve as food and shelter for wax moths.

    Colonies infected with American Foulbrood must be destroyed.

    Beekeepers are allowed to use the antibiotic oxytetracycline (terramycin)
as a preventive measure against the spread of American Foulbrood into
colonies.  Antibiotic applications may be made only after the end of honey
production, and must be terminated 30 days prior to the start of new organic
honey production.

    Menthol is allowed for control of Tracheal Mites (Acarapis Woodi).

    Folic acid, formic acid, and lactic acid are allowed for the control of
Varroa Mites with the following restrictions:

· Folic acid may be used after the end of the season’s honey production.  Its
use must be discontinued 30 days before the addition of honey supers.  The
need for folic acid must be documented and approval obtained from QAI prior
to its use;

· Formic acid has not been approved by the EPA for use against mites in the
U.S.  The need for formic acid must be documented and approval obtained from
QAI prior to its use;

· Lactic acid may be used after the end of the season’s honey production.
Its use must be discontinued 30 days before the addition of honey supers.
The need for lactic acid must be documented and approval obtained from QAI
prior to its use.

    6.7.4.1.  The following practices are prohibited:
· Use of sugar syrup, or oil (shortening) based extender patties for
administering
      antibiotics for American Foulbrood control;
· Use of synthetically compounded materials for health care.

    6.7.5.  Hives & Apiary Yard Locations
· Apiary “yards” should be located near abundant, forageable pollen and
nectar crops;
       yards should be located in areas of low ant activity;
· Hives (if paintable) should be painted with non-toxic paint and in a
suitable color for
       the climatic conditions;
· Comb foundations are to be made of pure beeswax, and frames are to be made
from
       wood.  Plastic frames, foundations or combs are prohibited;
· Additional supers (boxes of production combs above the brood chambers) are
       encouraged for successful colonies;
· Each individual hive must have a numbered I.D. code that relates to the
bottom board,
       brood chamber boxes, queen excluder (if used), honey supers, and
cover(s);
· Use of wet comb (extracted, but wet with honey) from conventional hives is
prohibited.

6.7.6.  Harvesting

6.7.6.1.  Accepted methods for removing bees from the honey supers during
harvesting include:
· Bee escapes with a natural smoke agitant;
· Bee brush and transfer boxes;
· Forced-air bee blower.

    The use of “fume boards” with non-compliant or unregistered repellents of
any kind during harvesting is prohibited.  Examples of these prohibited
products include butyric anhydride (Bee Go and Honey Robber) or benzaldehyde.

6.7.7.  Extraction Facility

    The extraction facility must adhere to all regulations for organic
processing facilities.

6.7.7.1.  Acceptable moth controls in storage include:

· Burning sulfur;
· Refrigeration or freezing.

        Any honey heated to over 110 degrees F must not be labeled “raw”
honey because of heat denaturing of enzymes.

    The labeling of organic honey grade or color shall comply with USDA honey
industry standards.  Organic honey labeled by floral source must be produced
solely from that single floral source and not blended with any other honey.

6.7.8.  Record-Keeping

Yard records of all inputs must be maintained, including dates and amounts of
materials applied.  A detailed production log with an apiary yard location
system must be maintained in an auditable format.