Bill Text: CA AB1216 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Honey.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-10-11 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 388, Statutes of 2009. [AB1216 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB1216-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1216	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 13, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 30, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 22, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 4, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 2, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Evans

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to amend Section 29413 of the Food and Agricultural Code,
relating to honey.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1216, as amended, Evans. Honey.
   Existing law defines "honey" for purposes of those provisions of
law that regulate the content, labeling, and container standards of
honey.
   This bill would establish a new definition of honey for these
purposes, including new technical standards, as specified, the
violation of which would be a crime under other provisions of law.
   By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated
local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 29413 of the Food and Agricultural Code is
amended to read:
   29413.  (a) "Honey" means the natural sweet substance produced by
honeybees from the nectar of plants or from secretions of living
parts of plants or excretions of plant sucking insects on the living
parts of plants, which the bees collect, transform by combining with
specific substances of their own, deposit, dehydrate, store, and
leave in the honeycomb to ripen and mature.
   (b) "Blossom honey" or "nectar honey" means the honey that comes
from nectars of plants.
   (c) "Honeydew honey" means the honey that comes mainly from
excretions of plant sucking insects (Hemiptera) on living parts of
plants or secretions of living parts of plants.
   (d) Honey consists essentially of different sugars, predominantly
fructose and glucose as well as other substances such as organic
acids, enzymes, and solid particles derived from honey collection.
The color of honey can vary from nearly colorless to dark brown. The
consistency can be fluid, viscous, or partially to completely
crystallized. The flavor and aroma vary, but are derived from plant
origin.
   (e) Honey sold as described in subdivision (d) shall not have
added to it any  food  ingredient, including food additives,
nor shall any other additions be made other than honey. Honey shall
not have any objectionable matter, flavor, aroma, or taint absorbed
from foreign matter during its processing and storage. Honey shall
not have begun to ferment or effervesce and no pollen or constituent
particular to honey may be removed except where unavoidable in the
removal of foreign inorganic or organic matter.
   (f) Honey shall meet the following standards:
   (1) Honey shall not be heated or processed to such an extent that
its essential composition is changed or its quality is impaired.
   (2) Chemical or biochemical treatments shall not be used to
influence honey crystallization.
   (3) Honey shall not contain more than 20 percent moisture content
and for heather honey not more than 23 percent.
   (4) Honey shall contain not less than 60 percent fructose and
glucose, combined.
   (5) Honeydew honey and blends of honeydew honey with blossom honey
shall not contain less than 45 percent fructose and glucose,
combined.
   (6) Blossom honey shall not contain more than 5 percent sucrose,
except for the following:
   (A) Alfalfa (Medicago saliva), citrus spp., false acacia (Robinia
pseudoacacia), French honeysuckle (Hedysarum), Menzies banksias
(Banksia menziesii), red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), leatherwood
(Eucryphia lucida), and Eucryphia milligani may contain up to 10
percent sucrose.
   (B) Lavender (Lavandula spp.) and borage (Borago officinalis) may
contain up to 15 percent sucrose.
   (7) The water insoluble solids content for honey other than
pressed honey shall not be more than 0.1g/100g. The content for
pressed honey shall not be more than 0.5g/100g.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.