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Georgia · Direct-to-Consumer Compliance · Category 13 of 24

Honey

Extracted, bottled honey sold direct to consumer by the beekeeper who produced it

Farm Exempt
None for pure honey
License
GDA apiary registration recommended
Registration
Georgia Honey Law standards
Labeling
Allowed, no cap
Retail

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ Generally Covered

  • Selling pure, extracted honey you produced, direct at the farm, markets, online, and to retail stores
  • Registering your apiary with GDA (recommended for disease-monitoring and often required for larger operations)
  • Labeling with net weight, producer name/address, and honey standards under the Georgia Honey Law
  • Selling comb honey and creamed/whipped honey made from your own hives with no added ingredients

✕ Needs More / Watch Out

  • Selling honey blended with unlisted syrups or adulterants and calling it 'pure honey' — this violates Georgia's honey purity/labeling standards
  • Skipping apiary registration where GDA requires it for hive location/disease tracking
  • Making infused honey (e.g., honey with dried fruit or herbs added) without checking whether that shifts you into cottage food's general dry-goods labeling rules
  • Ignoring local ordinances on backyard beekeeping/hive placement

Three Steps to Compliance

A

Register your apiary

Register your hive locations with GDA's Plant Industry program (bee/apiary registration), which supports disease monitoring and is often expected of anyone selling honey commercially.

B

Extract, bottle, and label correctly

Bottle pure honey with no undisclosed additives, and label with net weight, your name/address, and any required honey-grade or purity language under the Georgia Honey Law.

C

Sell freely

Direct sales, markets, online, and retail wholesale are all open with no state cap on honey sales — just keep any blended or infused honey product properly labeled as such.

Quick Reference

License required?No specific sales license for pure honey from your own hives
Apiary registrationRecommended/expected through GDA Plant Industry for hive tracking
Labeling standardGeorgia Honey Law — net weight, purity, producer info
AdulterationIllegal to sell honey cut with syrup and market it as pure honey
Retail/wholesaleAllowed, no cap
Infused honeyMust disclose added ingredients clearly on the label

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to sell honey from my own hives?
No specific sales license is required for pure honey, though registering your apiary with GDA is recommended and sometimes expected.
Can I sell honey at a farmers market?
Yes, with no state cap, as long as it's properly labeled under the Georgia Honey Law.
What if I add cinnamon or dried fruit to my honey?
Disclose the added ingredients clearly on the label — it's still generally sellable, just no longer 'pure honey' alone.
Is there a purity standard I have to meet?
Yes — Georgia's Honey Law prohibits adulterating honey with syrups or other sweeteners while representing it as pure.

Printable Checklist

MarketStand · Georgia Producer Compliance Series
This guide is general information, not legal advice, current as of September 2026. Georgia's cottage food, meat inspection, dairy, egg, plant, feed, and alcohol rules change — always verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (agr.georgia.gov), Georgia Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division, and your local health department before selling.
Primary sources: Georgia Dept. of Agriculture (Cottage Food, Meat Inspection, Egg Law, Live Plant Program, Feed/Pet Food Program); HB 398 (2025); Georgia Raw Dairy Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-450 et seq.; Georgia Meat Inspection Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-60; Georgia Food Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-20; GA Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division; FDA (DSHEA, MoCRA, FSMA Produce Safety Rule, 21 CFR 108/111/113/114).