Honey

House of Lords written question – answered at on 17 November 2003.

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Photo of Baroness Byford Baroness Byford Conservative

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Honey (England) Regulations (S.I. 2003/2243) state that filtered honey or baker's honey may not be sold if it is marked with "information relating to floral or vegetable origin, regional, territorial or topographical origin or specific quality criteria".

Photo of Lord Warner Lord Warner Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health)

The Honey (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2243) transpose Council Directive 2001/110/EC on the labelling and specification of honey. The directive prohibits filtered and baker's honey from including supplementary information referring to its floral or vegetable origin, regional, territorial or topological origin or specific quality criteria. "Filtered" honey consists of a blend of different honeys, which is subjected to a fine filtration process removing virtually all the characterising pollen needed to authenticate such claims. Baker's honey is not sold directly to consumers. It is used primarily in processed foods containing honey as an ingredient. There were no objections to this provision in consultations during negotiation of the directive and transposition.

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