European Beekeepers Association tries to block increase in duty-free honey imports from Ukraine
The European Beekeeping Association (EBA, headquartered in Slovenia) is protesting against the previously agreed decision of the European Commission to increase the quota for duty-free honey imports from Ukraine from 6 thousand tons to 35 thousand tons per year and calls for it to be postponed until the introduction of more reliable, in its opinion, honey quality control systems.
The EBA sent a corresponding letter to the European Commission, reports the Slovenian ezine STA.
According to the association, the European honey market is currently facing growing competition from cheap imported honey, often of dubious quality and unclear origin in the absence of effective control mechanisms.
In the letter, in particular, the EBA pointed out a number of legislative gaps that allow honey to be falsified. European beekeepers are particularly concerned about insufficient border control, poor traceability and the lack of unified methods for verifying the authenticity of honey at the EU level.
The association supports aid to Ukraine, but warns that any new trade agreement must also take into account the interests of European farmers, especially in the sensitive beekeeping sector, the EBA letter to the European Commission says.
The EBA was founded in February 2024. According to its website, it currently unites 55 organizations from 30 countries, representing more than 414,000 beekeepers. The Beekeepers' Union of Ukraine is also listed as a member of the association.
