Both Mary and Murray wrote of organic organizations that set honey standards and
showed that they can work.
Don't disagree. But this is a US government standard. I worked in the US government
and know that regulations can take on a life of their own. Plus, you do not know
the power that obscure GS-11's like to exert when backed by some new regulation.
And they never die (the reg, not the GS-11.). But they do expand (both this time-
need more GS-11s to enforce the expanded regulation).
In Maine we have a strong organic organization with farm organic standards- both
veggies and farm animals. The standards have evolved with time to reflect good
organic practice and attainability. For example, using their guidelines antibiotics
can be used on farm animals . The Maine honey standards are not realistic but, in
time they would be modified to reflect attainable, good practices.
That sort of common sense evolution is unlikely with a government regulation.
Unless you have the means to influence the "process".
Where is Tom Jefferson when you need him?
Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME
 
j h & e mcadam wrote in part:
 
> The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture (NASA) has a
> certification system for organic produce and has produced a standard
> applicable to honey.  When I queried this some years back there was one
> beekeeper in Australia who was deemed to have met all the standards and to
> be qualified to label his/her honey as "organic".
>