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Sep 17, 2025 - Foods

New Regulation for Honey - What Changes for Consumers

The new EU directive, also known as the “Breakfast Directive,” brings several changes for consumer information. One of the main innovations concerns the declaration of blended honeys from different countries of origin, which must now be specified in much more detail.

The Honey Ordinance of 2004 was last amended by the Ordinance of July 5, 2017, and is now being adapted again. The changes include, among other things:

Changes in § 3:
New labeling requirements: Paragraph 4 stipulates that honey from multiple countries of origin must be listed in descending order and with the corresponding weight share in the main field of view. There is also a regulation for packages containing less than 30 g of honey, which may include a country code instead of the country name. For blends of honey, a tolerance range of 5 percent is allowed in the indication of the countries of origin.
Transitional provision in § 6:
Products that were manufactured and labeled according to the previous regulations before June 14, 2026, may continue to be marketed until stocks are exhausted.
Changes in the appendices:

Appendix 1, Section II, Number 8: The definition of “baking honey” is changed. Baking honey is now defined as honey suitable for industrial purposes or as an ingredient for processed foods, even if it may have a foreign taste or smell.
Appendix 2: The terms “filtered honey” and “baking honey” are adjusted to match the new definitions.
These changes serve to align the Honey Ordinance with new European directives and clarify labeling and marketing requirements for honey products.

In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly carry out the necessary honey examinations and labeling checks. We provide you with quick and reliable results and are happy to advise you on any concerns regarding product safety. Our customer advisors are available to answer your questions.

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