Sen. Schumer Draws Media Attention to China Honey Trade

Senator Expresses Concerns Over Lack of National Standard of Identity

By Troy Fore

A statement released by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) has drawn the attention of multiple media outlets to the issue of "honey laundering" relative to honey imports from China.

In a statement released in conjunction with his appearance before a hearing of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) on June 9, 2010, Schumer called on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on "honey launderers."

"This is just one more example of China playing by its own rules to the detriment of every else," said Schumer.  "Instead of simply selling their product in a fair and competitive way, the Chinese are using illegal, backdoor deliveries and mislabeling their product to accomplish their goal.  Today I am calling on the federal government to issue a stinging rebuke to these practices, and once again level the playing field."

In a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, Schumer expressed concern that FDA "has yet to issue a national standard of identity for pure honey.  Such a standard would be a critical tool in promoting truth in labeling, and provide a basis for enforcement actions by State and Federal agencies against those responsible for imports of mislabeled or adulterated honey."

Media outlets across the country picked up the story. Wall Street Journal's wsj.com headlined a piece: "A Bee in Schumer's Bonnet: Honey Laundering." Radio station WHBL in Sheboygan, Wis., posted a localized version on its Web site: "Schumer Proposal Could Help WI Honey Markers."

Schumer constituent Ron Phipps, of CPNA Global in Jericho, N.Y., brought the issue to the attention of Schumer's staff. Phipps made several trips to Washington to work on this and was in the capitol for the USCC hearing. The USCC is charged with monitoring the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the China and making an annual report to the federal government. More information is available at uscc.gov.

posted July 2010

For additional information about Sen. Schumer's involvement, visit http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=325636.