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Honey

Here you can find the legislation and guidance for honey.

EU legislation

Council Directive 2001/110/EC (OJ L 10, p47, 12.01.2002) of 20 December 2001 relating to honey

Corrected by

Amended by

Consolidated version of Directive 2001/110/EC as at 23 June 2014

 

National legislation

Directive 2001/110/EC prescribes standards for the composition and labelling of honey and sets out compositional criteria in respect to sugar content, fructose and glucose content, moisture content, water-insoluble content, electrical conductivity and free acid. Also included are minimum levels of diastase (an enzyme capable of breaking down starch; an amylase) activity and a maximum level of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content.

The country or countries of origin where the honey has been harvested must be indicated on the label. If the honey originates in more than one Member State or third country (i.e., a country outside the EU), then the indication may be replaced by one of the following as appropriate:

  • 'blend of EU honeys'
  • 'blend of non-EU honeys'
  • 'blend of EU and non-EU honeys'

Note: 

Honey produced or labelled before 24 June 2015 in accordance with Directive 2001/110/EC may continue to be marketed until the exhaustion of stocks. 

Honey manufactured before 1st August 2004, may be placed on the market in accordance with the previous legislation (The Food Standards (Honey) (European Communities) Regulations 1976 (S.I. No. 155 of 1976), now revoked, until stocks are exhausted.