NHB Restructuring Mooted

LONGMONT - May 23/02 - SNS -- The U.S. based National Honey Board is seeking to change the way it is financed as well as the structure of the board. If achieved, the changes would see the board controlled by companies handling more than 250,000 pounds of honey annually, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the number of entities involved.

The ideas came out of a recent roundtable meeting in Chicago. Roundtable participants discussed parameters for a new honey research and promotion program. Representatives from six major honey industry groups attended including the American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association, Mid U.S. Honey Producers, National Honey Packers and Dealers Association, Sioux Honey Association and Western States Packers and Dealers.

The proposed new program would focus on four areas -- quality, protecting the image of honey, research and promotion. The group will implement the new program through legislation enacted in 1996 called the "Generic Statute." This statute allows the USDA to implement research and promotion boards more quickly than might otherwise be possible (such as by amending the National Honey Board legislation).

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