Brussels Launches Honey Platform to Enhance Authenticity Controls
The European Commission has announced the launch of the Honey Platform to improve authenticity controls and traceability of honey within the European Union. As the second-largest producer of honey in the world, the EU aims to harmonize methods for detecting honey adulteration with sugar and trace the product’s origin back to the producer. With up to 90 members, the expert group will work towards meeting the requirements set by the newly approved regulations.
The platform will gather data on various authenticity systems, provide recommendations for honey traceability in the EU, establish composition criteria, and potentially set up a reference laboratory within the Union. Stakeholders along the supply chain, civil society representatives, personal experts, and academics are encouraged to apply for membership by July 15th. The platform, initially set to operate for five years, will convene its first meeting in November 2024 and gather at least twice a year thereafter.
The recently revised common rules on honey composition and labeling, known as the breakfast directives, aim to educate consumers, increase transparency about product origins, and combat food fraud. When the directive comes into effect in mid-2026, labels for honey blends must list countries of origin in descending order based on weight and percentage representation. Countries may choose to display only the percentage of the top four parts if they account for over 50% of the blend.
In support of EU beekeepers, the Commission has allocated 610 million euros from national and EU funds for the 2023-2027 period. The funding will be used to combat hive diseases, aid in repopulation efforts, and promote training activities, among other initiatives. The Honey Platform represents a significant step towards ensuring the authenticity and traceability of honey products in the EU, providing consumers with greater confidence in their purchases.