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Answer to a written question – Actions to protect consumers by tackling honey adulteration and strengthening the beekeeping sector – E-002129/2025(ASW)

Source: European Parliament

As mentioned in replies to written questions E-000209/2024[1] and E-000343/2024[2], the Commission adopted measures to address honey adulteration at EU level.

EU import requirements were reinforced with an authenticity requirement for exporting countries[3] and an amendment to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292[4] made the import of honey possible only from listed establishments.

Directive (EU) 2024/1438[5] amending the Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001, introduced mandatory origin labelling for honey blends and new provisions on traceability and authenticity.

In particular, the Commission is to adopt, by 14 June 2028, implementing acts laying down methods of analysis to detect adulterated honey, and by 14 June 2029, delegated acts, based on feasibility studies, laying down methods and criteria to determine the place where honey has been harvested and Union-wide traceability requirements for honey from the harvesting producer or importer to the consumer. Technical work is in progress to that end in the framework of the Honey Platform.

Beekeeping will remain a priority for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with targeted support aimed at strengthening the sector in response to climate change.

This through support for advisory services, technical assistance, training and information, investments/actions to prevent damage caused by adverse climate and to adapt to climate change as well as cooperation for research.

In addition, the proposed CAP simplification package[6] and future CAP proposals[7], will grant Member States more flexibility and opportunities to further support their beekeepers by allowing payments per beehive for agri-environment-climate commitments/eco-schemes and under future coupled income support.

  • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2024-000209-ASW_EN.html.
  • [2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2024-000343-ASW_EN.html.
  • [3] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/36 of 11 January 2022 amending Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 as regards model certificates for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain live aquatic animals and products of animal origin. C/2022/18 OJ L 8, 13.1.2022, p. 36-91 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/36/oj.
  • [4] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2652 of 15 September 2023 amending and correcting Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of honey, meat, highly refined products, gelatine capsules, fishery products and requirements for private attestation and amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/630 as regards private attestation requirements for composite products exempted from official controls at border control posts: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202302652.
  • [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32024L1438.
  • [6] COM(2025) 236 final (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025PC0236) presented by the Commission on 14 May 2025.
  • [7] COM(2025) 565 final (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025PC0565&qid=1753801752960) and COM(2025) 553 final (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025PC0553) presented by the Commission on 16 July 2025.