Honey is subject to EU rules that help ensure consumers receive clear and accurate information about the products they buy. These rules cover both the composition of honey and the information that must appear on honey labels.
Recent changes to the rules strengthen the requirements for country of origin information, making it easier for consumers to see where honey comes from.
The information below explains the new requirements and provides guidance on what consumers should look for when purchasing honey.
New Honey Labelling Rules: What Consumers Need to Know
New EU rules on honey labelling came into effect on 14 June 2026. The changes provide consumers with more detailed information about the origin of honey and increase transparency for honey products available on the Irish market.
What Has Changed?
Under the new EU labelling rules, where honey is a blend of honey harvested in more than one country, the label must now clearly show:
- Country or countries of origin
- The percentage contribution of each country to the blend
- Countries listed in descending order by weight
This information must appear in the principal field of vision of the product, making it easy for consumers to see at the point of purchase.
What Was Required Previously?
Prior to 14 June 2026, blended honey could be labelled using more general descriptions such as:
- 'Blend of EU honeys'
- 'Blend of non-EU honeys'
- 'Blend of EU and non-EU honeys'
These descriptions did not identify the specific countries where the honey was harvested.
What Will the New Labels Look Like?
The following example* illustrates how country of origin information may now appear on a honey label:
Country of origin:
Spain (40%)
Germany (30%)
Italy (20%)
Ukraine (10%)
The countries must be listed in order of their contribution to the blend, with the highest percentage shown first. For small portions under 30g, producers may use ISO alpha-2 country codes, such as "IE" for Ireland, to save space.
*The EU rules also require other information on the label of honey. More information on honey legislation and labelling requirements is available from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Why Have These Changes Been Introduced?
The new requirements aim to:
- Improve transparency for consumers
- Support informed purchasing decisions
- Provide clearer information about the origin of honey
- Enhance consumer confidence in honey products
Why Are Some Honey Products Still Using the Old Labels?
Honey that was produced, packaged, labelled and placed on the market on or before 14 June 2026 may continue to be sold until existing stocks have been exhausted.
As a result, consumers may continue to see products with the previous origin declarations for some time after the new rules came into effect.
What Should Consumers Look For?
When purchasing honey, consumers should check the country of origin declaration on the label.
The label should clearly display:
- Each country where the honey was harvested
- For blended honey, countries of origin must be listed in descending order of weight and include the percentage contribution of each country
- Origin information in the principal field of vision (a prominent location on the package where the consumer is likely to see it immediately)
The label should not contain any health claims – for example, the label should not indicate or suggest that honey can treat, prevent, or cure any human disease.
What about Products Containing Honey and Other Ingredients?
Some products contain honey together with ingredients such as chillies, ginger or lemon.
Under EU legislation, the term “honey” is a protected legal name and applies only to products that meet the definition of honey and meet the compositional criteria set out in the Honey Directive.
“Honey” is defined as a natural substance to which no food ingredients or additives may be added. Where ingredients are added to honey, the product no longer meets this definition and cannot be sold or marketed as “honey”.
Products containing honey and other ingredients may be sold but must be clearly described in a way that accurately reflects its composition. This means that products containing honey and added ingredients, such as chillies, should not be marketed simply as "hot honey", as this could mislead consumers about the nature of the product.
For example:
Description That May Mislead Consumers |
Clear Product Description |
| Hot Honey | Honey with Chillies |
| Ginger Honey | Honey with Ginger |
This distinction is necessary to ensure that consumers are not misled and that product names accurately reflect their composition.
Consumers should check product names and ingredient lists to understand exactly what they are purchasing.
Further Information
Information on honey legislation and labelling requirements is available from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.