Astonishing Success: Mission Impossible Accomplished!
In a significant move towards transparency and authenticity, the European Union has introduced new labelling rules for honey products. The initiative, led by Mr. Boštjan Noč, the president of the Beekeeping Association of Slovenia, gained momentum in 2019 when the association submitted an initiative to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, calling for all honey on the market to be labelled with the country of origin.
The European Beekeeping Association, established to address the challenges facing European beekeeping, has been a staunch supporter of this initiative. The association, whose first supporters were various beekeeping associations, aims to improve traceability and combat adulterated honey by developing harmonized methods for detection.
Under the new rules, honey packers will have to list all the countries of origin of the honey in the central visual field of the product in descending order according to the amount of honey from that country in the jar. This measure is expected to empower consumers to make informed choices and support local beekeepers.
The European Commission has also established a working group of experts to identify adulterated honey and improve traceability. Furthermore, an EU reference laboratory for honey will be established to ensure consistent and reliable testing across member states.
The new rules were adopted by the European Parliament yesterday and will enter into force 20 days after publication. Member states will have a two-year transition period to implement the changes.
Mr. Boštjan Noč, the president of the Beekeeping Association of Slovenia, expressed gratitude towards the ministers, members of the European Parliament, and all professional services for their support in the initiative. He also announced the start of a promotional campaign "Europeans choose domestic honey".
The initiative was presented at the meeting of the EU Council for Agriculture and Fisheries in 2020, along with Portugal. The European Beekeeping Association invites all European beekeeping associations to immediately join it in its mission to promote transparency, authenticity, and the well-being of European beekeeping.
The Beekeeping Association of Slovenia's initiative has marked a significant step forward in ensuring the authenticity and traceability of honey in the European Union. As more and more consumers demand transparency in their food, these new rules are expected to have a positive impact on the industry and the environment.
[1] European Commission. (2023). New Honey Labelling Rules for the European Union. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/labelling_non-prepacked_food/honey_labelling_rules_en
[2] European Beekeeping Association. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://europeanbeekeepingassociation.org/about-us/
[3] European Commission. (2023). Food Compliance and Enforcement Report. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/compliance_enforcement/food_compliance_and_enforcement_report_en
- The European Union's moves towards transparency and authenticity are not limited to honey, as initiatives in health-and-wellness, lifestyle, and food-and-drink sectors are also being considered, aiming to provide consumers with clear information about the origin of their products.
- With the emphasis on combating adulterated food products, the European Beekeeping Association's work extends beyond honey, nurturing research in food safety and traceability to promote a healthier and more sustainable European lifestyle.
