40 nations eligible for honey import by EU

Since our last update in BfDJ 96, the list of so-called third countries (those authorised for their honey to be imported into the EU by the Annex to EU Decision 2004/432/EC) has risen to 40*. The Residue Monitoring Plans submitted by Ghana and Madagascar received approval. After carrying out corrective measures to address the shortcomings in their plan, India has been reinstated to the list. Unfortunately the current plan submitted by Belize does not meet the necessary requirements and consequently Belize is no longer on the list.

*To be eligible, nations must submit a Residue Monitoring Plan proving that they have systems in place to monitor honey safety.

Further information at www.beesfordevelopment.org/help/exporting-to-the-eu

Recognised third countries (October 2011)

Argentina

Australia

Brazil

Cameroon

Canada

Chile

China

Croatia

Cuba

El Salvador

Ethiopia

French Polynesia

Ghana

Guatemala

India

Israel

Jamaica

Kyrgyzstan

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Madagascar

Mexico

Moldova

Montenegro

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Pitcairn Islands

Russia

San Marino

Serbia

Switzerland

Taiwan

Tanzania

Thailand

Turkey

Uganda

Ukraine

Uruguay

USA

Zambia

Source: http://euroalert.net/en/ojeu.aspx?idd=15364

EU Honey Import Prices 2011

The average price was €2.08* per kg although there were large differences between countries. The price for Chinese honey was the lowest at €1.34, followed by Thailand (€1.76). The highest price paid was for honey from New Zealand (€7.55). For Argentina, Mexico and Chile the price was €2.24, €2.47 and €2.70 per kg respectively.

Source: Horacio Mezziga, Agrodigital.com

*€1.00 = US$1.31 (March 2012)