Ukrainian honey is often sold abroad with European labeling

Ukraine is heavily reliant on the European Union (EU) markets for its honey exports, with 88% of its total honey exported in 2021 being sent to the EU. The top buyers were Germany, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Romania, Belgium, and the USA. However, the dependence on the EU market has made the industry vulnerable to the upcoming restrictive measures by the EU on certain Ukrainian products, including honey, starting from June 2024. To mitigate this risk and reduce dependence on the EU, Ukraine is urged to diversify its export markets towards the USA, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the article highlights the issue of Ukrainian honey being sold abroad with misleading European labeling, which results in higher prices, and the need for Ukrainian honey producers to add value by packaging and branding their products. This requires collaboration from various stakeholders, including manufacturers, exporters, state bodies, and industry associations.