Next to the issue of subsidisation, a policy survey showed that honey classification and labelling is perceived as being the second most important issue is relation to a thriving honey market. On that basis, Henning Lyngsø Foged presented some preliminary ideas for policy recommendations and suggested in this connection a wider use of already existing systems for gaining consumer trust via traceability labelling of honey. These systems include the use of private quality certification systems organised by beekeepers' associations, displaying their logo and the beekeeper's name. Of similar importance has EU's system for Protection of Geographical Indication (PGI), since it also displays an easily recognisable logo on the label, as well as the beekeepers name, which has been a requirement since 2024. Of less value but still giving consumer confidence is EU's organic farming certification logo, which, however, does not include traceability information about the concrete honey producer.
We cannot hinder consumers in buying cheap honey qualities, but beekeepers can ensure a better and fairer market price for their honey by using existing certification and labelling systems!
Download the presentation from the 3rd BeSafeBeeHoney conference, held in Tirana, Albania on 6 and 7 May 2026.