| On 22nd April, FVE joined a parliamentary event on EU Honey Market Integrity: Trade Importance and Fraud Risks. Hosted by MEP Elena Yoncheva (Non-associated to any party). The discussions highlighted that honey adulteration is not only a market issue, but it’s a matter of public health, pollination services and sustainability of EU food production. It was noted that enforcement remains constrained by limited capacity, lack of a dedicated EU reference lab, regulatory requirements that are not yet scientifically enforceable and the time required to validate robust analytical methods.
During the Q&A session, FVE stressed that strengthening bee health and addressing fraud should therefore go hand in hand. While welcoming the new import control task force, FVE underlined that this issue requires a holistic approach and, therefore, upstream pressures on EU beekeepers must not be overlooked. Limited availability of veterinary medicines and rising biological threats, such as the Asian hornet, are putting EU honey production under increasing strain. This weakens the EU production capacity and may indirectly increase market vulnerability to fraudulent imports. |
Tue, 18 Nov 2025