Today, the European Parliament adopted its position on the revision of the “Breakfast Directives”. The opinion voted upon improves the Commission’s proposal and fixes crucial points of the COM ENVI report concerning honey, in terms of traceability, quality, and transparency towards consumers. European beekeepers are pleased with the willingness of the European Parliament to go even further than the Council position adopted on Monday.
It was a long-awaited vote for all European beekeepers, who have been terribly affected by rising honey imports and fraud in recent years. Today, the European Parliament has supported the position of European beekeepers, marking a significant milestone for the preservation of beekeeping in the EU.
Among the key proposals voted, European beekeepers welcome the mandatory indication of percentages of each origin and in descending order in honey blends with a 5% tolerance margin. Indicating on the label the percentage share for all individual countries will increase transparency towards consumers while significantly contributing to combating unfair competition from adulteration of imported honey products.
The deletion of the derogation that excludes beekeepers with less than 150 beehives from the mandatory implementation of the traceability system is another welcomed change. This deletion will make the traceability system implementation operative and effective to provide consumers with more transparent information and to support the target of 0% adulteration in 2030 as promoted by Copa and Cogeca Honey Working Party.
European beekeepers also welcome the support of the European Parliament to the idea of a European Reference Laboratory which would help the European Commission to improve controls and detect adulteration in honey through updating systematic testing and using latest analytical methods to prove the authenticity and quality of honey. However, no specific reference to its implementation and establishment was agreed at this stage.
While the European beekeeping sector celebrates this vote as a crucial step towards further protection for honey products, it looks forward to constructive trilogue negotiations that are foreseen to start in January. European beekeepers strongly hope that the European Commission and the Council will take into account the improvements introduced and adopted by the European Parliament!
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
