Finally a government has listened and acted on one of the historical demands of the beekeeping sector Spanish: una honey with clear labeling to report your the origin with greater precision. If up to now consumers cannot know exactly where this product that they buy in supermarkets comes from, this will no longer be the case. Because the Council of Ministers has approved this past Tuesday, April 19, a Royal Decree that modifies the current regulations on the quality of honey. But, specifically, with regard to the information that must appear on the packaging, so that from now on the country of origin. An important detail for the benefit of transparency and that will serve to promote the purchase of national honeys. We tell you more here!
Historical claim, why?
This detail that can go unnoticed in many foods or that is well indicated in most of them has been a headache for the Spanish beekeepers. Above all, because it is impossible to identify whether a honey with clear labeling (or what is considered so) comes or does not come from Spain. The Coordinator of Organizations of Farmers and Ranchers (COAG) demanded a change in the standard of its quality since more than a decade. That historic request is already a reality. You will be able to know from where you consume the honey, although there is still the problem that the exact percentage appears. We will have to wait more until this very important aspect is fixed so that it is known how much product is there from exactly one place.
With the almost non-existent information that was given on the labels - under the phrase of «EU honey mix»Or the same phrase but with others whose origin was from out of Europe- Identity was greatly damaged. How could a consumer be sure that he was buying Spanish product? The answer is clear: I couldn't, it was impossible with only that information on the packaging. But we speak in the past tense because this is already solved. It will allow the national beekeeping sector to commercialize its honey with clear labeling indicating its origin in Spain. Something essential to promote the consumption of a local and quality product, 100% Spanish.
Mandatory honey with clear labeling
The current coalition government between PSOE and United We Can has approved the Royal Decree with total obligation to comply. In this way, if a honey has been made from mixtures from different countries, the label should detail the list of countries of origin of those honeys. Although, for reasons of European competition law, the percentages of each one cannot be set, the places that more amount contribute to the final product. Will this legislation be changed in the future to completely satisfy beekeepers?
Of course, when this golden delicacy has been collected only in one country, it should be indicated. Thanks to this highly demanded information, the consumer will be able to choose between different offer with a greater foundation. The beekeepers of our country will thus benefit from it, since it will improve their competition against foreign honeys. In many cases, those that come from China have a doubtful quality, although here the problem is another: the fraud. It is nothing new that an attempt is made to 'sneak' a hoax with the origins of a food on its label.
COAG has described this modification as "fair" for a honey with clear labeling. Now it's up to the operators of the market pick up the baton and fulfill that role well. Because to ensure that regulatory compliance is a success you need a self-control system suitable. Always so that this can verify the royal origin of the honeys that are mixed. Without a doubt, this is great news that we are glad of! Of course, we will be attentive to upcoming modifications or innovations in the other aspect that still worries Spanish beekeepers. We have already discussed it before: exact percentage specification you own from one country or another.
