205
European Honey Regulation may also be recognized, especially when there are
local quality requirements that cannot be met if the Codex Alimentarius Standard
was to be followed. In New Zealand, for instance, the Unique Manuka Factor
Honey Association (UMFHA) has a unique trademark UMF
®
, which set an independent standard to ensure that honey products have been tested for quality and
purity before leaving New Zealand (UMFHA 2019). UMFHA’s focus is to identify the unique signature compounds of genuine Manuka Honey to protect consumers and the industry.
The draft for the EU honey standard was found to be somehow identical with
the Codex standard, except that specifics on contamination, hygiene, and sugar
adulteration found in Codex was not included in the EU Directive. Conversely,
there are also points contained in the EU standard that are lacking the in the Codex
Standard. Examples include the definition of “industrial” or “bakery-honey” and
the question of honey pollen. Codex Alimentarius stated that the quality standards
set are not compulsory for governments and can be agreed upon. On the other
hand, the EU Honey Directive demanded that all commercial retail honeys should
abide by their standards.
Table 11.1 summarizes the criteria mentioned in the CL 1998/12-S of the Codex
Alimentarius and to the Council Derivative 2001/110/EC of the EU, and the other
quality criteria proposed by the International Honey Commission (IHC) (Bogdanov
et al. 2015).
11.7 Challenges in Honey Production
The levels of bioactive substances in honey vary depending on its geographical and
botanical origin. Thus, proper labelling of honey products must be advocated so that
consumers are not misled. The Codex Alimentarius Standard for Honey is generally
accepted worldwide for honey trade. In the wake of expected increase in global and
local honey trade, however, issues of adulteration and sub-standard honey production must be given importance, and regulations must be in place even in the
regional level.
Climate change is an on-going risk to precision apiculture. Comparing the beehive weights in the optimal beekeeping conditions and during drought in the
Mediterranean areas in 2017 showed that bee populations, honey reserves, and pollen spectrum was affected greatly (Flores et al. 2019). Another risk to beekeeping is
the phenomenon called the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), where honey bee
stocks dip dramatically due to unknown reasons. Researchers point to parasites,
pathogens, pesticides, or immune system disorders as the drivers of CCD
(Stokstad 2007).
11 Honey as Functional Food and Prospects in Natural Honey Production
European Honey Regulation may also be recognized, especially when there are
local quality requirements that cannot be met if the Codex Alimentarius Standard
was to be followed. In New Zealand, for instance, the Unique Manuka Factor
Honey Association (UMFHA) has a unique trademark UMF
®
, which set an independent standard to ensure that honey products have been tested for quality and
purity before leaving New Zealand (UMFHA 2019). UMFHA’s focus is to identify the unique signature compounds of genuine Manuka Honey to protect consumers and the industry.
The draft for the EU honey standard was found to be somehow identical with
the Codex standard, except that specifics on contamination, hygiene, and sugar
adulteration found in Codex was not included in the EU Directive. Conversely,
there are also points contained in the EU standard that are lacking the in the Codex
Standard. Examples include the definition of “industrial” or “bakery-honey” and
the question of honey pollen. Codex Alimentarius stated that the quality standards
set are not compulsory for governments and can be agreed upon. On the other
hand, the EU Honey Directive demanded that all commercial retail honeys should
abide by their standards.
Table 11.1 summarizes the criteria mentioned in the CL 1998/12-S of the Codex
Alimentarius and to the Council Derivative 2001/110/EC of the EU, and the other
quality criteria proposed by the International Honey Commission (IHC) (Bogdanov
et al. 2015).
11.7 Challenges in Honey Production
The levels of bioactive substances in honey vary depending on its geographical and
botanical origin. Thus, proper labelling of honey products must be advocated so that
consumers are not misled. The Codex Alimentarius Standard for Honey is generally
accepted worldwide for honey trade. In the wake of expected increase in global and
local honey trade, however, issues of adulteration and sub-standard honey production must be given importance, and regulations must be in place even in the
regional level.
Climate change is an on-going risk to precision apiculture. Comparing the beehive weights in the optimal beekeeping conditions and during drought in the
Mediterranean areas in 2017 showed that bee populations, honey reserves, and pollen spectrum was affected greatly (Flores et al. 2019). Another risk to beekeeping is
the phenomenon called the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), where honey bee
stocks dip dramatically due to unknown reasons. Researchers point to parasites,
pathogens, pesticides, or immune system disorders as the drivers of CCD
(Stokstad 2007).
11 Honey as Functional Food and Prospects in Natural Honey Production