Maryland § 10-1905

§ 10-1905.

    (a)    A person may designate a food product as “honey” if the product conforms to the Maryland standard of identity for honey set forth in § 10–1904 of this subtitle.

    (b)    If a food product contains any flavoring, spice, or other ingredient in addition to honey, the name of the product shall distinguish the product from pure honey and designate the food additive.

    (c)    If processing materially changes the flavor, color, viscosity, or other material characteristic of pure honey, the name of the product shall distinguish the product from pure honey and designate the modification.

    (d)    For blossom or nectar honey, the name of the food may be supplemented by the term “blossom” or “nectar”.

    (e)    For honeydew honey, the word “honeydew” may be placed in close proximity to the name of the food.

    (f)    For mixtures of blossom or nectar honey with honeydew honey, the name of the food may be supplemented with the words “a blend of honeydew honey with blossom honey” or “a blend of honeydew honey with nectar honey”.

    (g)    (1)    Honey may be designated by the name of a geographical or topographical region if the honey was produced exclusively within the area referred to in the designation.

        (2)    When honey has been designated by the name of a geographical or topographical region, the name of the country where the honey has been produced shall be declared on the label.

    (h)    (1)    Honey may be designated according to a floral or plant source if it comes wholly or mainly from that particular source and has the organoleptic, physicochemical, and microscopic properties corresponding with that origin.

        (2)    When honey has been designated according to a floral or plant source:

            (i)    The common name or the botanical name of the floral source shall be in close proximity to the word “honey”; and

            (ii)    The name of the country where the honey has been produced shall be declared on the label.

    (i)    (1)    Honey may be designated according to the following methods of removal from the comb:

            (i)    “Extracted honey” is honey obtained by centrifuging decapped broodless combs;

            (ii)    “Pressed honey” is honey obtained by pressing broodless combs; or

            (iii)    “Drained honey” is honey obtained by draining decapped broodless combs.

        (2)    The designations in paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be used unless the honey conforms to the applicable description.

    (j)    (1)    Honey may be designated according to the following styles:

            (i)    “Honey” that is honey in liquid, crystalline state, or a mixture of the two;

            (ii)    “Comb honey” that is honey stored by bees in the cells of freshly built broodless combs and that is sold in sealed whole combs or sections of such combs; or

            (iii)    “Cut comb in honey”, “honey with comb”, or “chunk honey” that is honey containing one or more pieces of comb honey.

        (2)    The styles designated in paragraph (1)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection shall be declared on the label.