Invitation Extended to European Consumer Groups: Collaborate with Our Online Platform
The European Beekeeping Association, a leading organisation dedicated to the protection and promotion of beekeeping across Europe, has launched a campaign to combat the issue of fake honey.
Led by President Boštjan Noč, the Association has sent a letter appealing for support to all consumer organisations in Europe, inviting them to join in the mission to preserve the integrity of the honey market. The Association believes that partnering with consumer organisations can effectively combat honey adulteration.
The problem of fake honey is widespread globally, with reports suggesting that up to 80-90% of honey from countries like India and Vietnam may be adulterated with bioengineered sweeteners, making it difficult for genuine producers, especially in North America and Europe, to compete.
To combat this issue, the Association proposes strategic cooperation with consumer organisations across Europe. This cooperation could involve sharing expertise and supporting scientific laboratory testing to verify honey authenticity, participating in legislative advocacy for standards and enforcement against fake honey imports, and information campaigns to raise consumer awareness about honey fraud.
Testing through laboratory analysis is recognised as a critical tool to identify fake honey. For example, an Alliance of Beekeepers' Associations spokesperson emphasised the necessity of lab testing as the only reliable method to detect fake honey.
Legislation efforts, such as the U.S. Honey Integrity Act introduced in 2025, aim to create national standards and enforce measures against fraudulent honey sales, showing the role of policy and regulatory collaboration in tackling fake honey.
The European Beekeeping Association is open to working with consumer organisations to protect the interests of all European consumers. The Association's primary goal is to protect consumers from fake bee products and preserve bees and the practice of beekeeping.
The Association encourages purchasing local bee products to support beekeeping and agriculture. The names of members of the European Parliament who support the activities and work of the European Beekeeping Association will be published on the Association's website.
The European Parliament, representing the interests of 507 million citizens, is invited to support the activities of the European Beekeeping Association. The Association unites nearly 300,000 beekeepers from 20 European countries.
While specific examples or details of a formal strategic cooperation or joint initiatives between the European Beekeeping Association and consumer organisations with measurable progress are not readily available, it is reasonable to infer that such collaboration would likely involve the mechanisms mentioned above. For detailed and up-to-date information on this collaboration, consulting official releases from the European Beekeeping Association, EU consumer protection agencies, or specialized trade and food safety bodies would be necessary.
- The European Beekeeping Association, in partnership with health-and-wellness groups, is planning to launch campaigns advocating for the importance of authentic nutrition, emphasizing the risks associated with consumption of fake honey and promoting local food-and-drink products that are guaranteed safe and genuine.
- To foster a lifestyle of informed choices, the Association, in collaboration with consumer organisations, is planning to conduct research on the impact of fake honey on health, as well as support educational programs teaching the public about the importance of knowing the origins of their food products.
