Governor Martin O'Malley signed the Maryland Standard of Identity For Honey bill into law Wednesday afternoon.

Frederick County Delegate Kathy Afzali says her bill establishes Maryland as a trailblazer state, and hinders China and other countries from adding harmful additives and labeling it 'honey'. "There are only a handful of states that have introduced the honey standard. It's the first step in protecting the honeybee population in Maryland," said Afzali. Afzali worked closely with members of the Maryland Beekeepers Association, and Florida beekeeper Nancy Gentry, the catalyst behind Florida's honey standard. Delegate Afzali stated, "In the past year I've learned more about honeybees than I ever thought possible. Most importantly, I'm trying to encourage awareness of the dangers of a decline in the Maryland honeybee population. This trend is nationwide and with bills like the Maryland Standard of Identity for Honey and others that I have in the pipeline, I am hoping to raise the profile of Maryland beekeeping and its importance to Maryland agriculture."

Delegate Afzali was in Annapolis at 2 PM Wednesday for the bill signing with members of the Maryland Beekeepers Association.

The new law takes effect October 1, 2012.