Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Support Domestic Beekeepers and Honey Producers

Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Honey Integrity Act to protect domestic honey producers and commercial beekeepers from being undercut by counterfeit foreign honey imports. Senator Tuberville’s legislation builds on his previous efforts to protect our domestic producers and increase healthier food options for consumers.

“Honey is one of nature’s greatest antioxidants, providing many wonderful health benefits,” said Senator Tuberville. “America’s beekeepers and honey producers work tirelessly to ensure that we have access to pure, quality honey. But sadly, the lack of uniform standards is creating loopholes that foreign honey producers are increasingly exploiting. Our honey producers deserve a level playing field, and Americans deserve to know exactly what they’re putting in their bodies. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to secure our nation’s honey industry, support our domestic beekeepers and increase food transparency for Americans.”

Senator Tuberville’s legislation would instruct the FDA to create a standard identity for honey and require the HHS Secretary to report enforcement against adulterated/misbranded honey to Congress. AgriPulse first reported on the bill’s introduction.

Complete text of the bill can be found here. U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-FL-17) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) are leading the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’m introducing the Honey Integrity Act in the House to crack down on the mislabeling and sale of fake products to American consumers,” said Rep. Steube. “This bill establishes clear standards for honey and accountability for bad actors without adding more government red tape. Families have the right to know the honey they are buying is real. I thank Senator Tommy Tuberville for leading on this issue in the Senate and Rep. Jimmy Panetta for his support in the House. We must protect American honey producers and make sure consumers get the quality produce they pay for at the grocery store.”

The Honey Integrity Act is supported by the American Honey Producers Association, American Beekeeping Federation (ABF), Alabama Commercial Beekeepers Association (ACBA), and the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA).

“The Alabama Farmers Federation and its members extend their gratitude to Senator Coach Tuberville and Representative Steube for their leadership in protecting consumers’ right to purchase pure honey,” said Blake Thaxton, Director of Alabama Farmers Federation’s Bee and Honey Division. “Buying local honey directly from beekeepers remains the best way to ensure consumers receive 100% real honey. However, this bill is a meaningful step toward building consumer confidence that the honey they buy is unadulterated.”

“The Alabama Commercial Beekeepers Association (ACBA) thanks Senator Tuberville for his dedication to the consumers and the producers of Alabama,” said Robert Russell, Vice President of the Alabama Commercial Beekeepers Association. “Adulterated honey products have been a huge problem in our markets for many years. Consumers who think they are making healthy decisions by buying honey, have been misled by the products labeled as honey yet filled with corn syrup and rice syrup. This issue has damaged the beekeepers of Alabama as well. The beekeepers work diligently to provide a premium product to the market while unscrupulous packers cut prices by fooling the consumers into buying fake honey. Real honey is unable to compete in pricing with adulterated syrups. The people of Alabama deserve so much better and Senator Tuberville has stepped up to protect all of us. We look forward to working with the Senator and the FDA to protect our industry and the health of our state.”

“The American Honey Producers Association applauds Senator Tuberville, Representative Steube and Representative Panetta for introducing the Honey Integrity Act” said Steven Coy, President of the American Honey Producers Association. “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.”

“As a commercial beekeeper from Montana and president of the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) a national organization representing beekeepers in all 50 states from hobbyists to commercial operations, on behalf of ABF we strongly support the “Honey Integrity Act,” said Patty Sundberg, President of the American Beekeeping Foundation. “ABF is grateful to Senator Tuberville for his sponsorship of this critical legislation. We look forward to working with Senator Tuberville on the need for this legislation to protect U.S beekeepers and U.S. consumers from economically adulterated honey from entering the country. ABF looks forward to working closely with the Senator Tuberville and all other senators to see this much needed legislation become law.”

As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Senator Tuberville is committed to protecting Alabama’s farmers, foresters, and producers from undue foreign interference and competition.

Senator Tuberville is aggressively targeting snapper poaching from cartels with the reintroduction of the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act that would crack down on illegal red snapper and tuna imports.

Senator Tuberville repeatedly fought against the Biden administration’s attempts to undermine domestic catfish imports by giving undue advantages to Vietnamese catfish imports. The administration eventually reversed course after months of pressure from Senator Tuberville and his Republican colleagues.

Senator Tuberville recently re-introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act to help eliminate trade barriers that harm American farmers and businesses, leading to higher prices for consumers, and ensure domestic producers can compete on a level playing field.

Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville reintroduced the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act and Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act to curb foreign involvement in our agriculture supply chains.

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