Online Event: Honey labelling: Time to bee transparent

Wednesday 10 November 2021, 11:00 – 12:30 CET

Hosted by MEP Juozas Olekas

Co-Chair of the ‘Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Apiculture’ Working Group of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Development’

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Currently the beekeeping sector is facing great challenges, as European beekeepers are collecting the worst harvests in the decade; yet despite low levels of production, honey prices have not risen because of the scope of imports. At the same time, current law requires that all honey sold in the EU must have its origin displayed on the label. However, if the product sold is a mix of honey from various sources, the label only has to indicate whether the mix comes from the EU, from non-EU countries, or both, hence not specifying the countries, or even the proportions of the blend. This kind of labelling can be used to deceive consumers, who may believe that they are buying a product of mostly EU origin, when the proportion of the honey sourced from the EU may be in fact very small. According to current law, there is additionally no obligation to specify the exact third country from which the product originates.

As a result, while EU citizens should receive the same quality of information regardless of the price of the product, the producers should be able to moreover emphasise the high standards of the honey they collect. Towards this direction, the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’ aims at organizing an online event in order to unlock challenges and opportunities ahead, via bringing together EU policy-makers, civil society and the private sector community addressing the above.

Final Agenda:

11:00 – 11:10: Opening remarks by MEP Juozas Olekas

11:10 – 11:20: Brigitte Misonne, Head of G3 Unit on Animal Products, DG AGRI, European Commission

11:20 – 11:45: Interventions by:

• Simona Vrevc, Counsellor for Agriculture and Special Committee for Agriculture Spokesperson, Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union – 5 min
• Stanislav Jaš, Vice-Chair of the Working Party on Honey, Copa-Cogeca – 5min
• Gemma Trigueros, Food Expert, OCU (Member of BEUC) – 5min
• Norberto García, President of the Scientific Commission on Beekeeping Economy, Apimondia – 5min
• Arne T. Henriksen, Chairman, Danish Beekeepers’ Association (on behalf of the Nordic Baltic Bee Council) – 5min

11:45 – 12:15: Q&As discussion with the audience

12:15 – 12:20: Reaction by MEP Franc Bogovič

12:20 – 12:30: Closing remarks by MEP Juozas Olekas