AMS is establishing a new regulation addressing country of origin labeling for packed honey bearing any official USDA mark or statement. This law would add a new cause for debarment from inspection and certification of honey.

The new regulation is necessary because the 2008 Farm Bill (section 10402 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require country of origin labeling for honey, if it contains official USDA grade marks or statements.

Example Honey Label (PDF)

The 2008 Farm Bill amended the Act to require that packaged honey bearing a

must also bear

This listing of the countries of origin must be

A violation of the new requirements may be deemed by the Secretary to be sufficient cause for debarment from the benefits of this Act, such as the use of the grade statements for honey.

This interim final rule becomes effective 90 days from date of publication in the Federal Register to allow the industry to clear the market of labels that do not comply with the new rules. Go to our Federal Rulemaking page for more information on the status of the interim rule and to comment on the regulation.

For questions about this regulation, please contact: Terry.Bane@ams.usda.gov by e-mail or by phone at 202-720-4693.