New EU labelling rules for honey came into effect on 14 June, aiming to strengthen requirements for the declaration of the country of origin, providing more transparency for consumers.

Under the new legislation, all countries of origin for blended honey must be clearly indicated on the label, in descending order of weight, along with the percentage contribution of each country.

Previously, a more vague and general description was used on honey labels, such as ‘a blend of EU honeys’ or ‘a blend of EU and non-EU honey’.

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Honey that was produced, packaged, labelled and on the market on or before 14 June will remain on the market for some months with the previous form of labelling, so it will take some time for consumers to see the change on shelves.

All food businesses involved in the production, packing, distribution or sale of honey must ensure that their labels are fully compliant with the new EU requirements.

Transparency

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has welcomed the introduction of the new rules with chief executive Greg Dempsey stating that improved origin labelling for honey will enhance transparency, support informed consumer choice and strengthen trust in honey products available on the Irish market.

“The new EU labelling requirements for honey represent a positive development for both consumers and for food businesses,” Dempsey said.

“Providing clearer information on the country of origin of honey supports informed decision-making by consumers, while also promoting fairness and greater transparency across the supply chain.”