Commission action against adulterated honey
16.5.2023
Question for written answer E-001563/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Stelios Kympouropoulos (PPE), Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE), Maria Walsh (PPE), Pierre Larrouturou (S&D), Anna Júlia Donáth (Renew), Tomislav Sokol (PPE), Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE), Maria Grapini (S&D), Peter Pollák (PPE), Marlene Mortler (PPE), Mazaly Aguilar (ECR), Juozas Olekas (S&D), Andrey Slabakov (ECR), Eleni Stavrou (PPE), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Simone Schmiedtbauer (PPE), Katarína Roth Neveďalová (S&D), Olivier Chastel (Renew), Manolis Kefalogiannis (PPE), Theodoros Zagorakis (PPE), Francesca Peppucci (PPE), Traian Băsescu (PPE), Iuliu Winkler (PPE), Marian-Jean Marinescu (PPE), Mircea-Gheorghe Hava (PPE), Gheorghe Falcă (PPE), Cristian-Silviu Buşoi (PPE), Daniel Buda (PPE), Vasile Blaga (PPE), Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE)
The most recent EU coordinated action[1]findings show that 46 % of imported honey samples appear to be adulterated and non-compliant with the provisions of the Honey Directive[2].
The adulteration appears to be carried out by adding sugar syrups, colourings and other additives with the aim of reducing the price, as well as masking the true geographical origin of honey by falsifying traceability information.
This constitutes a practice of unfair competition that endangers the beekeeping sector, an integral part of European agriculture, which plays a key role in the sustainable development of rural areas by creating jobs and making important contributions to the ecosystem.
With regard to the revision of the Honey Directive:
- 1.Does the Commission intend to proceed with further tightening the labelling requirements, including through the obligation to precisely indicate the country or countries of origin of the honeys used for the final product, as well as the proportions of all ingredients that have been used for the final product?
- 2.How does it intend to strengthen traceability checks, with an emphasis on imported honey and updating the list of laboratory methods for detecting fraud?
Submitted: 16.5.2023