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The European Beekeeping Association: A New Force Against Counterfeit Honey
In a bid to combat the rampant issue of counterfeit honey in the European Union, the European Beekeeping Association was founded in 2025. The association, established with the intention of addressing the problem of honey counterfeiting in Europe, serves as a platform for European beekeepers to unite and collaborate [1].
The association's Executive Board made a formal decision related to this mission in early July 2025, indicating the association's active role in addressing honey authenticity challenges within the EU [2]. Mr. Boštjan Noč, a renowned figure in beekeeping, proposed the establishment of the European Beekeeping Association to represent the interests of all European beekeepers and fight against counterfeit honey.
The European Beekeeping Association is a new entity established to tackle the issue of honey counterfeiting, which involves adulteration or false labeling. These practices undermine market trust and damage genuine beekeepers' livelihoods. The association aims to coordinate efforts across EU member states to fight these fraudulent practices effectively.
The association's efforts align with growing concerns about food authenticity and traceability in Europe, where honey is a valuable agricultural commodity. The organization likely serves as a platform for beekeeping stakeholders to collaborate on standards, monitoring, and enforcement methods to preserve honey quality and authenticity at the EU level [2].
A significant milestone in the association's mission was the receipt of a new EU regulation requiring honey to be marked by country of origin. This regulation, the first but an extremely important step, was received on September 18th., 2021, following a conference held in Slovenia to support Mr. Boštjan Noč's idea of labeling honey by country of origin [3].
Slovenia, along with Portugal, submitted amendments to the EU regulation on marking the origin of honey, further strengthening the association's mission. The first elected president of the European Beekeeping Association is Mr. Boštjan Noč from Slovenia, reflecting his commitment and influence in the beekeeping community.
In addition to his role in the European Beekeeping Association, Mr. Boštjan Noč has been a source of ingenious ideas for the development of beekeeping. He has also encouraged the country of Slovenia to work with other countries to establish World Bee Day, a significant event aimed at raising awareness about the importance of bees and beekeeping [4].
The European Beekeeping Association is a testament to the collective effort required to combat honey counterfeiting in the European Union. With its active role and the support of its members, the association is poised to make a significant impact in preserving the integrity of honey products and ensuring that consumers and producers benefit from genuine honey.
References: [1] European Beekeeping Association. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://europeanbeekeepingassociation.eu/about-us/ [2] European Beekeeping Association. (n.d.). Our Mission. Retrieved from https://europeanbeekeepingassociation.eu/our-mission/ [3] European Beekeeping Association. (n.d.). News & Events. Retrieved from https://europeanbeekeepingassociation.eu/news-events/ [4] World Bee Day. (n.d.). About World Bee Day. Retrieved from https://worldbeeday.org/about-world-bee-day/
- The European Beekeeping Association, a force against counterfeit honey, also aims to contribute to the health-and-wellness sector by ensuring authentic food-and-drink products, particularly honey, for consumer benefit.
- As education-and-self-development is key to success, the association's work on food-and-drink authenticity and traceability aligns with a broader mission to promote nutrition and a healthy lifestyle by supporting genuine beekeepers.
- In addition to their work on honey, beekeeping stakeholders within the European Beekeeping Association might also collaborate on efforts related to science, environment, and sustainability, focusing on the overall health and well-being of bee populations, contributing to the wider ecosystem, and driving integration within the lifestyle and nutrition community.
