Brussels, 25/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 November, the European Parliament called for an action plan to be set in place to counter the high mortality rate of bees (through sustainable and pollination-promoting agricultural practice). It also called for subsidies currently granted to apiculture to be stepped up.
Imports account for over 40% of honey sold in Europe. The EP would like to change the provisions relating to labelling showing the honey's origin in order to avoid information that would mislead consumers, especially regarding blends of different kinds of honey from the European Union countries and third countries. Also, border controls, especially for third-country imports, should be harmonised. MEPs consider that low-quality honey imports, adulteration and honey substitutes distort the market and exert constant pressure on prices and the final quality of the product on the EU's internal market. Also, the EP “takes the view that the name of any processed product containing honey as an ingredient or any graphic or other visual element on the label or on the packaging of that processed product should be allowed to make reference to honey in the name of the product only if at least 50% of the sugar content originates from honey”.
Furthermore, the EP acknowledges the importance of bees in maintaining the level of production in arable farming and in the horticultural sector, and considers it important to provide remuneration for the provision of this environmental public good. Finally, it is, the EP states, also appropriate: - to take into consideration the effect of plant protection products on the whole hive; - and to finalise innovative and effective treatment against varroa, a parasitic mite that causes considerable losses annually in certain regions. (L.C./transl.jl)