The Future of the Honey Market? The Biggest Concern Is Imports from Mercosur Countries

A meeting by the "Honey" working group of Copa-Cogeca, which includes the Federation of Branch Associations of Agricultural Producers (FBZPR), discussed the risks of trade liberalisation and product adulteration in the European Union's honey market. The group discussed the implementation of a new honey directive and the potential impacts of international trade agreements with Mercosur countries, Mexico, and Ukraine. There are concerns about the threat to the EU beekeeping sector from the gradual opening of the EU market to honey imports from these countries. The meeting also underscored the need for stronger regulation and enforcement in honey quality and labeling to protect both consumers and honest producers.

The threat associated with the opening of the EU market as part of trade liberalisation, as well as the ever-present problem of product adulteration – was discussed at the meeting of the “Honey” working group operating within Copa-Cogeca, an organisation representing European farmers and agricultural cooperatives. The Federation of Branch Associations of Agricultural Producers (FBZPR) was represented at this meeting. It was an opportunity for a broad discussion, including on the challenges facing the beekeeping sector in the European Union. “Experts from EU member states exchanged information on the state of the honey market in their countries and discussed the work carried out within the EU platform for honey. Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the new honey directive – the talks focused on the next legislative steps and priority topics that should be raised at the European forum,” reads the report on the FBZPR website. The meeting also raised important ...