AMS No. 108-09

Jimmie Turner (202) 720-6179

jimmie.turner@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting comments on its interim final rule for country of origin labeling of honey.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is establishing a new regulation addressing country of origin labeling for packed honey bearing any official USDA mark or statement. The rule would also add a new cause for debarment from inspection and certification of honey. The new regulation is necessary because section 10402 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require country of origin labeling for honey if it contains official USDA grade marks or statements.

The regulations governing inspection and certification would be amended to include a provision for country of origin labeling requirements for packed honey, and for debarment of services if the labeling requirements are not met for packages of honey containing official USDA grade marks or statements. A violation of the new requirements may be deemed by the Secretary of Agriculture to be sufficient cause for debarment.

The 2008 Farm Bill requires that packaged honey bearing any combination of USDA marks or statements must also display the name or names of the one or more countries of origin of the lot or container of honey so that the name or names are legible, permanently in close proximity to the USDA marks or statement -- such as on the same side(s) or surface(s), of a comparable size to the USDA marks or statements, and are preceded by the words “Product of” or other words of similar meaning.

To allow the industry to clear the market of labels that do not comply with the new rules, this interim final rule becomes effective Oct. 6, 2009. The rule was published in the July 8, 2009, Federal Register.

Written comments must be received by Sept. 8, 2009, and should be sent to Chere L. Shorter, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Stop 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0247; e-mailed to chere.shorter@usda.gov; or faxed to (202) 690-1527. Electronic copies should be submitted to www.regulations.gov. Copies of the notice are available from the same address.

For more information, contact: Chere.Shorter@ams.usda.gov or call (202) 720-4693.