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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 961

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Senn, Campsen, Bennett, Alexander, Fanning, Kimbrell, Loftis and Climer
Document Path: l:\s-res\ss\015beek.sp.ss.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4854

Introduced in the Senate on January 11, 2022
Introduced in the House on March 2, 2022
Last Amended on March 1, 2022
Currently residing in the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

Summary: Honey

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/11/2022  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 22)
   1/11/2022  Senate  Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural 
                        Resources (Senate Journal-page 22)
   2/10/2022  Senate  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and Natural 
                        Resources (Senate Journal-page 4)
   2/14/2022          Scrivener's error corrected
    3/1/2022  Senate  Amended (Senate Journal-page 17)
    3/1/2022  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 17)
    3/1/2022  Senate  Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 17)
    3/2/2022  Senate  Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 9)
    3/2/2022  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 101)
    3/2/2022  House   Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources 
                        and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 101)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/11/2022
2/10/2022
2/14/2022
3/1/2022

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

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.

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.

This web page was last updated on March 3, 2022 at 8:56 AM