New U.S. Honey Marketing Order Proposed

WASHINGTON - Jun 1/07 - SNS -- The USDA is seeking comments on a proposal for a new national Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order.

"The proposed national research and promotion program would replace the existing Honey Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Order, and the Department is recommending a referendum be conducted, prior to the implementation of the proposed order, to ascertain if the persons covered and assessed favor it," said Lloyd C. Day, administrator of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), a marketing and regulatory programs agency.

The program would be administered by a 10-member board and its alternates responsible for carrying out activities intended to strengthen the position of the honey industry in the marketplace, and developing, maintaining and expanding domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. The national coordinated generic program would be financed by a mandatory assessment of $0.01 per pound on honey and honey products paid by first handlers and importers that handle or import at least 250,000 pounds of the commodity annually.

The proposed rule will be published in the June 4, 2007, Federal Register, along with a proposed rule on the procedures to be used in the referendum to determine if the program will go into effect. Comments on both rules must be received by Aug. 3, 2007. Comments should be mailed in triplicate to the Research and Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244; by phone (888) 720-9917; fax (202) 205-2800.

Copies of the proposed rule and any comments that are received may be requested from the same address or viewed at: www.ams.usda.gov/fv/rpdocketlist.htm or www.regulations.gov.