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Honey Trade Bill

For over a year, ABF past-presidents Dave Hackenberg and Dave Mendes, along with ABF Board Member, Bret Adee, have been working with Congressman Steube and others on a Honey Trade Bill. On Friday, their hard work paid off as the Steube-Panetta honey trade bill was introduced in the House.

Here is the press release for Steube and Panetta’s version joined by Rep. Ezell. You can read the full bill text here.

This industry has been asking for years for this. And while it took a long time, decades actually, we knew it was important for our industry.

How important, you ask?

“As a commercial beekeeper from Montana and president of the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) a national organization representing beekeepers in all 50 states from hobbyists to commercial operations, on behalf of ABF we strongly support the Honey Integrity Act. ABF is grateful to Congressmen Stuebe and Panetta on their sponsorship of this critical legislation . We were pleased to work closely with Congressman Stuebe a beekeeper himself, on the need for this legislation to protect U.S beekeepers and U.S. consumers from economically adulterated honey from entering the country. ABF looks forward to working closely with the legislations sponsors to see this much needed legislation become law.” —Patty Sundberg, President of American Beekeeping Federation

How can you help? We need everyone to contact your senators and congressman and ask your senators to cosponsor the Tuberville bill in the Senate and your congressman to cosponsor the Steube-Panetta legislation in the House.

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