Adopted
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO 1 PROPOSED TO
Senate Bill No. 2007
BY: Committee
Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. Section 75-29-601, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
75-29-601. (1) As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in the subsections:
(a) "Pure Honey" means natural honey made by bees from the nectar of flowers. Pure honey may contain spices and/or flavoring that do not dilute it from its natural state so long as the spices and/or flavorings are clearly labeled.
(b) "Artificial honey" means a honey product that contains any substitute or added sugar, corn syrup or other sweeteners, including molasses or sugar water. Artificial honey products shall be labeled in the English language as "artificial honey" or "imitation honey," and the words "artificial" or "imitation" shall be as prominently shown as the word "honey," and a list of the ingredients in the products and a percent by weight of each ingredient shall be shown on the label.
(2) Every container of honey or honey products sold, offered or exposed for sale, by an individual, firm, organization or corporation in the State of Mississippi shall have on the outside of each container a paper label, permanent type stamped imprint or embossed material on the container itself, plainly printed in the English language truly certifying the net contents of the container, the name, brand, name and address of the person or processor offering such honey or honey products for sale, and a true statement of the contents contained therein.
( * * *3) It shall be unlawful for any
individual, firm, organization or corporation to label and/or sell, offer for
sale or expose for sale at the retail level of trade any product as " * * * honey" that does not meet the minimum
requirements established by this section and by the Mississippi
Department of Agriculture and Commerce. * * *
( * * *4) It shall be unlawful for any
manufacturer or distributor of honey or honey products to use a fictitious name
or address on the container label required herein.
SECTION 2. Section 75-29-603, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
75-29-603. (1) The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is hereby charged with the responsibility of enforcing this article, including the provisions of Section 75-29-601, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce or his representative shall be furnished samples of honey or honey products from the individual, firm, organization or corporation, upon request, and shall have such products analyzed by the State Chemist.
(2) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce is authorized, in his discretion, to issue an order to stop the sale or distribution of any honey or honey products found to be in violation of this article, including the provisions of Section 75-29-601. Upon written notice by the commissioner to the manufacturer or distributor of the honey or honey products sold in violation of this article, including the provisions of Section 75-29-601, such honey or honey products shall be picked up by the manufacturer or distributor of such products and the buyer of the honey or honey products sold in violation of this article, including the provisions of Section 75-29-601, shall be refunded the purchase price by the manufacturer or distributor.
(3) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce of the State of Mississippi is hereby authorized and empowered, in his discretion, to make and promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article, including the provisions of Section 75-29-601.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.
Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 75-29-601 AND 75-29-603, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL HONEY FOR PURPOSES OF LABELING REQUIREMENTS ENFORCED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE LABEL OF ANY PRODUCT CONSISTING OF HONEY AND SWEETENER SHALL INCLUDE ALL INGREDIENTS BY WEIGHT, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL SUBSTANCES ADDED TO HONEY TO ALTER THE FLAVOR SHALL BE INCLUDED ON THE LABEL AND TO PROVIDE THAT ANY LAB-GROWN HONEY SHALL NOT BE LABELED AS HONEY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.