***The Telegraph’s Europe Editor James Crisp reports:***
British honey companies have attacked “overzealous” new EU laws they claim discriminate against them.
The European Parliament has called for changes to EU labelling rules for honey as part of updates to the “breakfast directives” covering jams, jellies and marmalades.
UK and EU honey laws are currently the same because neither has changed since Brexit but British honey exporters will have to follow the new rules to sell in the EU.
The draft law will mean that all honey sold in the EU will have to list the country or countries it is harvested in on the label on the front of the jar.
In the case of blended honeys from more than one country, all the countries of origin must be listed in descending order of percentage on the label.
As things stand in the UK, labels can simply state the spread is a “blend of non-EU honeys”, rather than list countries such as China, Vietnam or India, which provide cheaper imports.
Brussels drew up the new legislation after a European Commission study found honey was being adulterated with cheap sugar syrup.
Almost half of all EU honey imports were deemed likely to be fraudulent, and all ten of the UK samples failed the authenticity tests.
Everyone should be avoiding this shitty blended “honey”.
Oh no! If only there was a way to have a say in how the laws are made in the EU…
> British honey companies
There’s a sting in their tail
Hungary pressured this for years. Its good our shitty goverment still can make good things sometimes..
Neah fuck that. Label with every country of origin. We don’t want fake honey – not to mention that it’s just not healthy.
Actually, just don’t buy non-EU honey. We have lots of countries that produce it.
I fully support this law they should be transparent on where the honey is harvested.
Well, it is important for consumers to have easy way to distinguish the product. Because we want to pay for the product we wish to get, not to have it jammed down our throat because some company wish for cheaper way to make profit.
And on the other hand, you had your brexit, do enjoy taking back your independence.
That’s “regulatory independence” for you…
It’s fine. Brits will be happy to eat their own fake honey they bought cheap from China.
If only there was a way they could influence EU regulations…
You voted for it. Enjoy your sovereignty and export honey to the Chinese and the Indians, honey
> “An overzealous EU approach to solve a problem we do not believe to be widespread in the UK and based on an EU study we believe lacks veracity, is unlikely to be in the best interest of British honey companies or consumers,” it added.
Yeah, well it’s an EU law, so why should it be “in the best interest of British honey companies”? You wanted out, you’re out. Don’t complain when you have to follow EU laws to be allowed to sell in the EU.
Also nothing wrong with the law. More information on the packaging about where the product is from is pro-consumer.
If I ran a lobbying firm this is exactly how I’d drum up support for a law
The British don’t like it? Do it! Show them what happens if you leave!!
To put this in context, the UK exports £12.7m of honey worldwide. Let’s call the EU half of that – £6.35m.
The UK exported £340bn of goods and services to the EU in 2022 – so honey exports to the EU are responsible for 0.001867% of export revenue….
These guys are the same type of micro companies that complain in the Guardian about leaving the EU because they can no longer export their hand crafted artisan pencils to Bulgaria without filling in a form.
Time to get a new gig….
*world’s smallest violin noises*
SUGAR *papadadapampam*
IS ADDED TO YOUR HONEY *papadadapampam*
AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NOOOOOO,
ACTUAL HONEY IN YOUR HONEY.
>and all ten of the UK samples failed the authenticity tests.
Yep, I can see why they definitely don’t want EU labelling laws, all right 😉
Probably because UK honey companies intend to sell artificial honey from China with 5% content of real honey as Natural Pure, Genuine Honey ^(mixture).
If you’re so proud of British product, why can’t you just label the country of origin?
>As things stand in the UK, labels can simply state the spread is a “blend of non-EU honeys”, rather than list countries such as China, Vietnam or India, which provide cheaper imports.
There’s about 0% chance a honey coming from China is real honey. They are selling industrial 1€/kg product, for this price it can only be full sugar.
Wonder how many of them voted to leave.
Was already avoiding non-EU honey – Food criminality is no joke – Brits already don’t obey the chocolate laws, so am not positive towards their products.
23 comments
***The Telegraph’s Europe Editor James Crisp reports:***
British honey companies have attacked “overzealous” new EU laws they claim discriminate against them.
The European Parliament has called for changes to EU labelling rules for honey as part of updates to the “breakfast directives” covering jams, jellies and marmalades.
UK and EU honey laws are currently the same because neither has changed since Brexit but British honey exporters will have to follow the new rules to sell in the EU.
The draft law will mean that all honey sold in the EU will have to list the country or countries it is harvested in on the label on the front of the jar.
In the case of blended honeys from more than one country, all the countries of origin must be listed in descending order of percentage on the label.
As things stand in the UK, labels can simply state the spread is a “blend of non-EU honeys”, rather than list countries such as China, Vietnam or India, which provide cheaper imports.
Brussels drew up the new legislation after a European Commission study found honey was being adulterated with cheap sugar syrup.
Almost half of all EU honey imports were deemed likely to be fraudulent, and all ten of the UK samples failed the authenticity tests.
**Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/12/19/british-honey-companies-attack-new-eu-laws/**
They’ll survive.
It’s a good change.
Everyone should be avoiding this shitty blended “honey”.
Oh no! If only there was a way to have a say in how the laws are made in the EU…
> British honey companies
There’s a sting in their tail
Hungary pressured this for years. Its good our shitty goverment still can make good things sometimes..
Neah fuck that. Label with every country of origin. We don’t want fake honey – not to mention that it’s just not healthy.
Actually, just don’t buy non-EU honey. We have lots of countries that produce it.
I fully support this law they should be transparent on where the honey is harvested.
Well, it is important for consumers to have easy way to distinguish the product. Because we want to pay for the product we wish to get, not to have it jammed down our throat because some company wish for cheaper way to make profit.
And on the other hand, you had your brexit, do enjoy taking back your independence.
That’s “regulatory independence” for you…
It’s fine. Brits will be happy to eat their own fake honey they bought cheap from China.
If only there was a way they could influence EU regulations…
You voted for it. Enjoy your sovereignty and export honey to the Chinese and the Indians, honey
> “An overzealous EU approach to solve a problem we do not believe to be widespread in the UK and based on an EU study we believe lacks veracity, is unlikely to be in the best interest of British honey companies or consumers,” it added.
Yeah, well it’s an EU law, so why should it be “in the best interest of British honey companies”? You wanted out, you’re out. Don’t complain when you have to follow EU laws to be allowed to sell in the EU.
Also nothing wrong with the law. More information on the packaging about where the product is from is pro-consumer.
If I ran a lobbying firm this is exactly how I’d drum up support for a law
The British don’t like it? Do it! Show them what happens if you leave!!
To put this in context, the UK exports £12.7m of honey worldwide. Let’s call the EU half of that – £6.35m.
The UK exported £340bn of goods and services to the EU in 2022 – so honey exports to the EU are responsible for 0.001867% of export revenue….
These guys are the same type of micro companies that complain in the Guardian about leaving the EU because they can no longer export their hand crafted artisan pencils to Bulgaria without filling in a form.
Time to get a new gig….
*world’s smallest violin noises*
SUGAR *papadadapampam*
IS ADDED TO YOUR HONEY *papadadapampam*
AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NOOOOOO,
ACTUAL HONEY IN YOUR HONEY.
>and all ten of the UK samples failed the authenticity tests.
Yep, I can see why they definitely don’t want EU labelling laws, all right 😉
Probably because UK honey companies intend to sell artificial honey from China with 5% content of real honey as Natural Pure, Genuine Honey ^(mixture).
If you’re so proud of British product, why can’t you just label the country of origin?
>As things stand in the UK, labels can simply state the spread is a “blend of non-EU honeys”, rather than list countries such as China, Vietnam or India, which provide cheaper imports.
There’s about 0% chance a honey coming from China is real honey. They are selling industrial 1€/kg product, for this price it can only be full sugar.
Wonder how many of them voted to leave.
Was already avoiding non-EU honey – Food criminality is no joke – Brits already don’t obey the chocolate laws, so am not positive towards their products.