The European Commission recently published the worrying information that almost 50% of honey on the market is fake, which represents a serious problem that requires urgent regulation. This situation requires a quick policy response to establish laws and regulations that will protect beekeepers and consumers. Accordingly, at the initiative of Slovenia, the Commission amended the Honey Directive, which will require honey to be marked with the country of origin. In addition, the goal is to define a harmonized method for identifying fake honey and to establish a reference laboratory. Unfortunately, this process is progressing slowly and is expected to take three years.
Recently published data shows that the presence of fake honey is on the rise. The European Association of Professional Beekeepers (EPBA) conducted research in Germany and found that as much as 83% of honey in hypermarkets is fake. A similar situation was recorded in Serbia. These results indicate a serious threat to the future of beekeeping, as fake honey creates unfair competition, which could destroy the entire industry.
How to get real honey? Here’s what EU beekeepers think
European beekeepers demand that politicians take urgent measures to solve the problem of fake honey at the level of the whole of Europe. The proposal is to establish coordinated methods for detecting fake honey, which will be used by inspections in all European countries, as well as reference laboratories that will ensure the reliability of the results. These measures are necessary to immediately remove fake honey from the market.
In addition to political measures, it is necessary to raise consumer awareness of this problem. Honey is often consumed to improve health, but consuming fake honey can have the opposite effect and harm health. It is therefore crucial that consumers are aware of choosing local, European bee products, as they provide a better guarantee of quality. The European Beekeeping Association (EBA), which represents around 400,000 beekeepers, appeals to all beekeeping organizations in Europe to join forces to protect the interests of beekeepers and consumers.
EBA is open to cooperation with all organizations that share a common goal – the fight against fake honey. The association calls for unified action to ensure that beekeepers do not lose their position on the market, and consumers get real, high-quality honey. Only with joint efforts is it possible to create effective methods of combating this threat and protect the beekeeping industry and human health.
Source: AgroTV
Source: boljazemlja.com
