An Austrian apiarist has criticised current product information policies as “not reasonable” after a study revealed that nearly half of all honey shipped into the European Union could be adulterated.
An investigation by European Commission (EC) watchdogs recently showed that 46 per cent of the honey brought into the EU might breach the association of nations’ product quality standards.
Current regulations mean that honey must not feature any added sugar. However, 147 of the 320 samples that had been examined were found to contain some sort of syrup.
Most fake honey products originate from Turkey and China, according to the EC study.
Thomas Renner – who heads the Salzburg Union of Beekeepers – told broadcaster ORF: “Labels informing that a product contains honey from EU and non-EU countries – that’s anything but reasonable. Why don’t you go and say: ‘Honey from Planet Earth’?”
Thomas – from the Imkerhof Salzburg in the town of Koppl – added: “The regional Salzburg origin certificate puts the region’s beekeepers in a fortunate position.”
Asked what the label means for customers, the beekeeper explained: “It ensures that all honey derives from hives situated in Salzburg. It also means that the jars were filled here.”
In 2021, the region’s 2,665 beekeepers managed more than 20,200 hives.
Salzburg is one of Austria’s nine states. Most of the country’s 33,000 apiarists do not make a living from selling honey and products like beeswax.
Since Austrian beekeepers struggle to cover domestic demand, 8,000 tonnes of honey are imported each year.
