Honey Integrity Act

The Honey Integrity Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a standard of identity for honey, report on enforcement actions against misbranded honey, and create a Honey Integrity Program to detect economically motivated adulteration through testing by commercial honey packers. Sec. 2, Standard of identity for honey: Within one year of enactment, the Secretary must set a standard of identity for honey based on U.S. Pharmacopeia standards under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Sec. 3, Report to Congress on enforcement actions: Within two years, the Secretary must report to Congress on enforcement actions against adulterated or misbranded honey under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Sec. 4, Honey Integrity Program: The Secretary must establish a program to detect economically motivated adulteration in honey. Starting 180 days after enactment, qualifying commercial honey packers must test honey using best available science, certify compliance, and report results. Packers must report adulteration findings within 24 hours and refuse such honey. The Secretary will investigate and destroy adulterated honey, share data with enforcement agencies and stakeholders, and publish a list of packers. The Secretary consults with Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Agriculture, which may provide resources. Fees are assessed on packers, with appropriations authorized. Economically motivated adulteration is defined as practices that increase food value by adulteration. Qualifying commercial honey packers are those paying assessments to the National Honey Board, with exclusions set by the Secretary.