Bill Text: SC S0961 | 2021-2022 | 124th General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Honey
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-02 - Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs [S0961 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2021-S0961-Amended.html
AMENDED
March 1, 2022
S. 961
Introduced by Senators Senn, Campsen, Loftis, Bennett, Alexander, Fanning and Kimbrell
S. Printed 3/1/22--S.
Read the first time January 11, 2022.
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 39-25-20(T) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "HONEY", TO PROVIDE THAT BEEKEEPERS PRODUCING NO MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED GALLONS OF HONEY MAY FILE FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM INSPECTIONS AND REGULATIONS REQUIRING HONEY TO BE PROCESSED, EXTRACTED, AND PACKAGED IN AN INSPECTED FOOD PROCESSING ESTABLISHMENT, OR FROM BEING REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A REGISTRATION VERIFICATION CERTIFICATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT BEEKEEPERS WHO FILE FOR AND OBTAIN THE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MAY SELL DIRECTLY TO INSPECTED FOOD PROCESSING ESTABLISHMENTS THAT MAINTAIN A REGISTRATION VERIFICATION CERTIFICATE FOR SUBSEQUENT WHOLESALE OR RESALE SALES.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 39-25-20(t) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(t) The term 'honey' means the raw food product produced by honeybees for human consumption. Honey and honey products are subject to all labeling requirements of this chapter. Honey sold wholesale to other retail outlets for resale must be processed and packaged in an inspected and registered food processing facility in accordance with the act regardless of the amount of overall honey produced by the beekeeper.
Beekeepers producing no more than four hundred gallons (4,800 pounds) of honey annually and who only may sell directly to the end consumer and are exempt from inspections and regulations requiring honey to be processed, extracted, and packaged in an inspected food processing establishment, or from being required to obtain a registration verification certificate (RVC) from the Department of Agriculture. However, labels are required on all containers of honey that are sold in South Carolina. Beekeepers must file for the exemption on forms to be provided by the Department of Agriculture. Beekeepers who file for, and obtain, the exemption certificate from the Department of Agriculture may sell directly to inspected food processing establishments that maintain an RVC for subsequent wholesale or resale sales. Any end user or retailer who buys honey produced pursuant to this subsection must keep a record of all honey purchases that will be resold or used in products that will be sold."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
