Brussels, 26/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the Internal Market Council gave, by qualified majority, its political agreement on a draft directive concerning honey. After three years of debates, the text fixes common rules for the composition, production, labelling and indications of origin of the main varieties of honey.
Differences of opinion have appeared over the denomination of honey that may be used for industry and for industrial pasty in particular. These products are defined in the directive by the following characteristics: they must present a strange taste or smell, or have fermented or been overheated. The United Kingdom and the northern countries hoped to be able to continue using the term "baking honey".
But for Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal, more explicit wording to the effect that these products are not intended for direct consumption is preferable. The compromise is not a genuine one, as the different linguistic versions vary according to the preference of each, between "baking honey" and "honey intended for industry".
Dissatisfied, Spain announced that it would vote against this text at its formal approval. It regards as unacceptable that a same product should be subjected to different rules depending on the country and that the wording "baking honey" could induce the consumer into error. In this fairly tough situation, which means that names on its national territory will be different depending on the linguistic communities, Belgium will abstain. For opposite reasons, Britain has also announced that it would abstain. It considers, notably, that the wording "honey intended for industry" is not necessary and could, in other cases, depreciate the measures taken regarding labeling relating to the safety and quality of products.
After formal approval, this text will be forwarded to the European Parliament for its opinion. It is part of a package of five proposals presented in June 1996 to simplify existing legislation and set out the conditions for labeling. The other four, on sugar, dehydrated canned milk intended for human food, fruit juices and jams have already been forwarded to Parliament.