The following information was written by Virginia Webb and is posted here with her permission. Take a few minutes to do some (or all) of the things she is recommending. There is strength in numbers.


>>If it says Pure Honey it should be PURE HONEY.

To have an impact on the legislative process we must communicate with our Senators and Representatives for them to understand our concerns in the Beekeeping industry. They must have clear factual information about issues. Congressional members want your opinions and they need insight and real-life experiences to address an issue properly.

Grassroots lobbying is the foundation of the American political system. Grassroots legislative work is not just for beekeeping clubs, but anyone who has an interest in beekeeping and wants the US FDA to act responsibly for making sure if customers are buying Honey its REAL HONEY. Economic food fraud involves substituting something of a lesser value for something for a higher value and then passing off the product as one of higher value. Rarely does adulterated food present a health hazard. It is an economic issue that cheats the consumer and honest producers of the product out of their money.

If any beekeeping club or individual wants to help, here are some ways you can.

First bring a petition to your local beekeeping association asking your U.S. Senators (at this time we are only dealing with the US Senate, but any US Congressional Representative could be contacted) to contact U.S. FDA Commissioner, Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, 5600 Fisher Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, and review and approve the Codex Standard of Honey, Docket No. 2006P-0101 (make sure the docket no. is on all correspondence). Mail the petition to both senators. Each senator has regional offices through out the state. If your club meets in the area of a regional office, call and make an appointment to speak with the senators’ representative. Have your club officers and members deliver the petitions to them in person and have the senator's representative forward the petition to the senator or mail the petition directly to the senators Washington office.

Add any additional information you would like to letters or the petition about your local club or information on beekeeping in your state. Have your club president or secretary add a personal letter to the petition and request an acknowledgement from the senator that they have received your club’s petition and will consider the matter. For your record make a copy of the petition and letters before mailing. To view the entire FDA petition, go to: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/doc...01/06p0101.htm. This Codex Honey Standard is a foundation for a legal definition of Honey.

Beekeepers can write letters personally to each senator or e-mail the senators requesting they contact FDA Commissioner, Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, 5600 Fisher Lane, Rockville, MD 20857 and have the Codex Alimentarius Standard for Honey, Docket No. 2006P-0101 reviewed and approved.

Beginning in May, each local beekeeping association president (or representative) should call both Senators (in Georgia they are Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson); you will most likely speak to the senator’s agriculture legislative aid. Ask if the senator has reviewed the petition and contacted U.S. FDA commissioner to review and approve the Codex Standard for Honey, Docket No. 2006P-0101. And ask for a follow up call to ensure the Senator has reviewed the information and is contacting the U.S. FDA.

I have a sample copy of a petition beekeeping clubs can use to send to their US Senator if needed. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at: 706-754-7062 or e-mail me at: MtnHoney@alltel.net.

There is nothing more powerful than the voice of the people speaking in unity to bring consumers issues to the fore front of our congressional representatives.

Thank you for your help in making this Standard of Honey become our National Standard of Honey.


Have a Honey of a Day!

Virginia Stephens Webb