In Luxembourg on Tuesday 25 April, EU agriculture ministers generally welcomed the recent proposals on honey labelling.
Slovenia has led a group of countries calling for stricter rules on labelling the origin of honey (https://aeur.eu/f/6jm ).
These countries have requested the introduction of compulsory labelling of the country of origin of honey blends, with an indication of the respective percentage share of honeys of the different origins in the blend. The proposal for the revision of the Honey Directive (Directive 2001/110/EC) provides for the obligation to indicate all countries of origin (Member States and third countries) on the honey label in the case of blends (see EUROPE 13167/1).
Ministers expressed concern about the results of the Commission’s investigation which showed that 46% of samples of honey imported from outside the EU are suspected of containing added syrups (see EUROPE 13148/12).
Honey blends account for 80% of all honey sold commercially, according to Slovenian Minister Irena Šinko. Italy, too, has defended the indication of the respective percentage share of each origin of honey. The subject had recently been discussed by the Agriculture Council (see EUROPE 13112/13). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)