Japan: Beekeeper told to stop mislabeling honey

The Hyogo prefectural government on Friday ordered a 72-year-old beekeeper of Sayocho in the prefecture to stop falsely labeling honey made in China as a product of the prefecture.

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The prefectural government instructed the beekeeper to properly label his products in accordance with the Japanese Agricultural Standards Law. The beekeeper has allegedly put on the market a total of 1,250 kilograms of the Chinese-made honey, Pure Honey Rengeso (Chinese milk vetch), with a label claiming it was produced in Sayogun (in the Banshu Plain) between Jan. 22 and June 10. On Aug. 1, an informer contacted the Nishi-Harima citizens bureau of the prefecture about the mislabeling. When questioned by the prefectural government Tuesday, the beekeeper admitted to the allegations. He later withdrew the product--which mainly had been sold in western Hyogo Prefecture--from the market.

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