Honey Packers Face Higher Fees for Sweeter Industry Support
Published Date: 3/9/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
Honey packers and importers will see their fees go up from 1.5 cents to 2 cents per pound of honey starting soon, helping fund research and promotion efforts. This new rate will last until it’s changed or stopped, and comments on the change are open until April 8, 2026. It’s a small price for sweeter support of the honey industry!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Honey assessment rate rises to $0.02/lb
If you are a honey first handler or importer, the assessment you pay increases from $0.015 per pound to $0.0175 per pound effective June 1, 2026, and then to $0.02 per pound on and after January 1, 2027. The higher rate applies to assessable honey and honey products and remains in effect until changed or terminated.
Importers bear most of assessment increase
Based on 2024 volumes, the proposed higher assessment would add $2.99 million to the program budget, with about $2.42 million paid by importers and $567,782 paid by first handlers. The assessment applies uniformly to entities that handle or import more than 250,000 pounds per calendar year.
Agency finds small businesses not disproportionately burdened
USDA analyzed the change and concluded it would not disproportionately burden small domestic first handlers and importers; SBA small-business thresholds referenced include $34 million in annual receipts for first handlers and importers. The analysis used 95 assessed importers and 34 assessed first handlers in 2024 to reach this conclusion.
More funds for promotion, less for organic reimbursements
The Board says higher assessments will reduce the need to move funds to cover reimbursements for certified organic imported honey and will allow more stable funding for promotion and research activities. The change is intended to ease budgetary pressure caused by reimbursement requirements and inflation.
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Key Dates
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