Argentine Beekeepers' Magazine

(Espacio Apícola, March 18, 2025) In line with the calls made by professional beekeepers in the European Union to "Clean Up the Honey Market" and after a year of intense work alongside Representatives Greg Steube (R-Florida), Jimmy Panetta (D-California), and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), beekeepers from the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA) celebrated the presentation of the "Honey Integrity Act" by Senator Tuberville on March 13th, which will be discussed during the 119th Session of the United States Congress (2025-2026) under the bill number S.1028.

The most recent precedent in the US legislative branch is a report by Renée Johnson, an agricultural policy specialist, published by the Congressional Research Service under the title "Ongoing Efforts to Address Fraud and Adulteration of Honey" on August 5, 2022. In it, Renée highlights that in 2021, domestic honey production barely exceeded 50,000 tons and imports were around 220,000 tons, concluding that: "In the next bill, Congress should consider policies focused on honey fraud, adulteration, and mislabeling." She also suggests collaborating with federal agencies to determine a standard of identity for honey.

In a statement by Steven Coy published by the American Beekeeping Magazine Bee Culture last Friday, the AHPA president states: "The American Honey Producers Association applauds Representative Steube (R-FL), Senator Tuberville (R-FL), and Representative Panetta (D-CA) for introducing the Honey Integrity Act. For years, America's beekeepers have sought adequate protections against adulteration of the honey supply on behalf of consumers and beekeepers alike. This legislation takes critical steps forward in addressing adulteration so that consumers can be confident that their honey is natural, wholesome and healthy. The legislation will also help level the playing field for honest American beekeepers who have had to compete against adulterated products for too many years. We look forward to working with Congress and FDA in implementing this common-sense legislation to restore fairness in the marketplace and certainty for the consumer." Source: beeculture.com

Beekeeper and Republican Representative Mike Ezell, from Mississippi's 4th District, co-sponsor, said: "Honey producers across America work hard to deliver a pure, natural product, but bad actors are undermining our efforts by flooding the market with adulterated honey. I am proud to co-lead this legislation that will ensure accountability by requiring reports on enforcement actions through the establishment of the Honey Integrity Program. As a beekeeper myself, I will always fight to protect consumers and our domestic honey industry. By strengthening testing and transparency, we can crack down on fraud and defend the integrity of American honey." Source: steube.house.gov

Key Provisions of the Honey Integrity Act:

- Creates a Federal Standard of Identity for Honey: Requires the FDA to establish a formal definition and standard for honey to prevent mislabeling and ensure product integrity.

- Enhances Federal Oversight: Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress detailing enforcement actions against adulterated and misbranded honey.

- Mandates the Destruction of Adulterated Honey: Ensures that when fraudulent honey is identified, it is destroyed— protecting consumers and honest beekeepers.

The initiative finally emerged when the antidumping actions promoted by the AHPA itself were not yielding the expected results, particularly against honey from India, and at least 14 years after what became known as the biggest fraud in the history of U.S. Customs. Companies such as Alfred Wolf GmbH, with a subsidiary in Chicago, evaded paying more than $80 million in tariffs in 2010; then Groeb Farms in Michigan also purchased Chinese syrup imported from Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam and sold it as honey within the United States, resulting in a fraud of $78 million between 2008 and 2012; and others allegedly evaded duties of more than $33 million...

Recall that the antidumping tariff imposed on Chinese honey in 2001 amounted to 221%, so the corresponding average tax was $2.63 per kilogram. Therefore, in these three examples, more than 70,000 tons of syrup were sold and consumed as honey within the United States. Source: "Foreign Trade, Panorama in the United States of America" by Fernando Esteban, citing Ron Phipps, the American Bee Journal, and various documents in Espacio Apícola No. 104 - March 2013.

Finally, Patty Sundberg, owner of Sunshine Apiaries in Montana, fully endorsed the Honey Integrity Act on her own behalf and as President of the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) and offered to work closely with Congressman Stuebe.

Fernando Esteban