UK's beekeepers call for new law to trace honey’s origin

Britain’s beekeepers are backing ­proposed new rules to combat fraud in the supply chain, ensuring a jar of honey can be traced on its journey of up to 5,000 miles from the beehive to the shop shelf. The European parliament has agreed new labelling rules and a project to establish a traceability system for honey from harvesting to the consumer. The proposed rules are part of an overhaul of the “breakfast directives”, including the honey directive. Honey producers and sellers in the UK want the rules to be adopted in Britain. Honey is one of the most common foods targeted by fraudsters, with a European Commission investigation finding last March that 46% of sampled products were suspected of having been adulterated. Lynne Ingram, master beekeeper at Wesley Cottage Bees, near Bridgwater in Somerset and chair of the Honey Authenticity Network UK, said: “The changes to the EU honey directive are a positive step forward in stopping the trade in adulterated honey. It will give consumers ...