Posted: 06.10.2010

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York wants
a national standard for pure honey to sting fraudulent imports from
China that are hurting an American honey market valued at up to $12
billion.

Schumer is asking the federal food and drug commissioner for a
standard that would halt imports of adulterated or mislabeled honey
from abroad. Florida and Wisconsin have enacted their own pure
honey standards, with other states preparing similar legislation to
protect their markets.

A Chinese executive pleaded guilty in August to a federal charge
he conspired to smuggle adulterated honey into the United States.
That case in Seattle was one of two such criminal cases filed last
year.

Schumer said Wednesday that more than 144 million pounds of
honey is produced each year in the U.S.

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