W12 Honey Update: EU Grapples with Widespread Imported Honey Fraud

Published 2024년 4월 2일

In W12 in the honey landscape, a new EU report found nearly half of the imported honey between 2021 and 2022 was likely fake, hurting beekeepers and consumers. Spain was hit especially hard, with suspected fraud in 51% of imports. The report highlights a price gap between genuine and potentially adulterated honey, urging stricter controls to protect beekeepers and consumers. Additionally, Polish authorities raised concerns about Ukrainian buckwheat honey lacking key pollen, potentially indicating inauthenticity.

EU Commission Report Reveals Widespread Fraud in Imported Honey

A recent joint report by the European Commission (EC), OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office), JRC (Joint Research Center), and the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) reported a concerning view of honey fraud within the European Union (EU). The report reveals that nearly half (46%) of honey samples imported into the EU during 2021 and 2022 were suspected to be adulterated, this translates to approximately 66% of importing companies having at least one instance of non-compliant honey.

The situation in Spain appears to be even more critical, with 51% of imported honey suspected to be fraudulent and an alarming 85% of importing companies facing at least one positive test result. The report highlights the significant gap between the market price of certain imported products labeled as "honey" and the expected cost of genuine honey. This discrepancy has been flagged by the Coordinator of Farmers and Ranchers Organizations (COAG) for years, suggesting potential adulteration.

The prevalence of adulterated honey has artificially suppressed the price of genuine European honey, particularly impacting producers committed to sustainable and high-quality production practices. COAG emphasizes the negative impact of honey fraud on the beekeeping sector's economic viability, especially considering the ongoing challenges posed by climate change to bee populations. COAG urges the EU and national governments to validate the analytical methods employed in the investigation to ensure their accuracy and widespread implementation. Increased vigilance and stricter controls at Border Inspection Points (PIF) are deemed crucial to prevent the entry of fraudulent honey into the EU market.

Polish Import Inspections Raise Concerns About Ukrainian Buckwheat Honey

Recent actions by Polish authorities have highlighted potential quality concerns surrounding buckwheat honey imported from Ukraine. Polish authorities initiated the return of 3.5 metric tons (mt) of imported Ukrainian honey, suggesting broader quality control measures in effect. The Lublin trade inspection for agricultural and food products issued an "immediate enforcement" ban on the placement of Ukrainian buckwheat honey in the Polish market. The primary reason for the ban was the absence of the key identifying ingredient, buckwheat pollen, in the honey, raising concerns about the product's authenticity and potential adulteration.

Polish quality control procedures for imported honey include Fagopyrum pollen analysis to verify product authenticity and ensure its origin matches the label claim. This analysis helps identify and quantify pollen grains from various plants visited by bees during honey production.