[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49279-49280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19770]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 161 / Wednesday, August 20, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 49279]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-FV-14-0025, FV-14-327]


United States Standard of Identity for Honey

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on how a Federal standard of 
identity for honey would be in the interest of consumers, the honey 
industry, and U.S. agriculture.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
via the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to Brian E. Griffin, 
Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Fruit and 
Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 0709-South Building; 
STOP 0247, Washington, DC 20250; telephone (202) 720-5021; fax (202) 
690-1527, email [email protected]. Comments should make 
reference to the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register and will be made available for public inspection at the above 
office during regular business hours.
    Please be advised that all comments submitted in response to this 
notice will be included in the record and will be made available to the 
public on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov. Also, the 
identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be 
made public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian E. Griffin, Standardization 
Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, telephone (202) 720-5021or fax 
(202) 690-1527.

Background

    Section 10012 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79), the 
2014 Farm Bill, charged the Secretary with developing a report 
describing how a Federal standard of identity for honey would be in the 
interest of consumers, the honey industry, and U.S. agriculture. 
Section 10012 specifically states, ``In preparing the report required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the 
March 2006, Standard of Identity citizens petition filed with the Food 
and Drug Administration, including any current industry amendments or 
clarifications necessary to update that petition.''
    In 2006, members of the honey producing, packing, and importing 
industries petitioned the FDA to develop a standard of identity for 
honey. A copy of the petitioner's request is available as a supporting 
document for this notice at-http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2006-P-0207-0008.
    The FDA is the agency responsible for developing a standard of 
identity for commodities such as honey. The Food Drug and Cosmetic Act 
(FDCA) directs the FDA to establish definitions and standards for food 
(21 U.S.C. Sec.  341). In an effort to promote honesty and fair dealing 
for the benefit of consumers, the FDA is authorized to establish, by 
regulation, a common or usual name, a reasonable definition and 
standard of identity, a reasonable standard of quality, and reasonable 
standards of fill of the container for any food. The petitioners 
contended that ``the proposed standard will promote honesty and fair 
dealing not only in the interest of consumers, but in the interest of 
the honey industry as well.'' The petitioners also stated that ``a 
compositional standard for honey will serve as a tool to help combat 
the economic adulteration of honey.'' The petitioners requested that 
the Commissioner of Food and Drugs adopt certain provisions of the 
Codex Standard for Honey (CODEX STAN 12-1981, Rev.2 (2001)).
    On October 5, 2011, FDA denied the petition concluding that no 
standard of identity for honey was necessary (http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2006-P-0207-0007). The FDA 
recently published draft guidance for industry on proper labeling of 
honey and honey products in the April 9, 2014 Federal Register Docket 
No. FDA-2006-P-0207. In this notice, the FDA addresses the 2006 
petition by the American Beekeeping Federation and several other honey-
related associations. The FDA believes that the petitioners' goals can 
be achieved by FDA's existing authorities and that a standard of 
identity for honey would not promote honesty and fair dealing in the 
interest of consumers. To address the labeling issues relevant to the 
petition, the FDA developed the draft guidance to advise the regulated 
food industry on the proper labeling of honey and honey products to 
help ensure that honey and honey products are not adulterated or 
misbranded under sections 402 and 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 342 and 343, respectively).
    There are currently several standards for the inspection and 
grading of honey. The U.S. Standards for Grades of Extracted Honey, 
effective date May 23, 1985, and the U.S. Standards for Grades of Comb 
Honey, effective date May 24, 1967, are voluntary U.S. grade standards 
issued under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 
(Act). The Act provides for the development of official U.S. grades to 
designate different levels of quality. These grade standards are 
available for use by producers, suppliers, buyers, and consumers. Like 
all standards for grades of fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, and 
specialty crops, these standards are designed to facilitate orderly 
marketing by providing a convenient basis for buying and selling, for 
establishing quality control programs, and for determining loan values. 
The standards also serve as a basis for the inspection and grading of 
commodities by the Federal inspection service. Copies of the current 
U.S. grade standards for extracted honey and comb honey are on the USDA 
Web site at www.ams.usda .gov/scihome.
    To provide an acceptable amount of guidance to help prevent the 
economic adulteration of honey at some level, many states have adopted, 
and/or are proposing to adopt, state-level standards of identity for 
honey. While some are

[[Page 49280]]

following the 2006 honey industry petition and using an amended version 
of the Codex Standard for Honey, CODEX standard 12-1981, Rev. 2 (2001), 
variations in the state standards of identity for honey are inevitable. 
The end result could lead to an assortment of standards that vary from 
state to state and impede interstate commerce.
    AMS is seeking comments on the petitioner's request for a standard 
of identity for honey and, specifically, the adoption of deviations as 
defined in the petitioner's request, and draft proposal. This notice 
provides for a 30 day period for interested parties to comment on the 
petitioners' request, and on how an appropriate Federal standard for 
the identity of honey would be in the interest of consumers, the honey 
industry, and United States agriculture.

    Authority: Section 10012 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. 
L. 113-79).

    Dated: August 15, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-19770 Filed 8-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P