The European Beekeepers Association (EBA) has expressed concern over the European Commission’s plans to expand the duty-free import quota for honey from Ukraine from 6,000 to 35,000 tons annually. In its letter to the European Commission, the organization insists on the need to postpone this decision until “more reliable” quality control systems are implemented.
This is reported by Finway
Quality Standards and Market Protection Requirements
According to the EBA, the European honey market is already under pressure due to the rise in imports of cheap products of questionable quality and uncertain origin. The lack of effective quality control mechanisms, the association believes, creates additional risks for local producers. The EBA emphasized that while they support aid to Ukraine, they stressed:
“Any new trade agreement must take into account the interests of European farmers, especially in the sensitive beekeeping sector.”
The Situation in the Ukrainian Honey Market
At the same time, this year’s honey harvest in Ukraine has amounted to only about 20% of the expected volumes. As a result, prices for the product have risen: linden honey is sold for 500–600 hryvnias per liter, sometimes even for 700 hryvnias. Buckwheat honey costs up to 800 hryvnias per liter, while acacia, lavender, or coriander honey is even more expensive. Large wholesalers note that they currently cannot provide sufficient volumes to fulfill export contracts to Europe and the USA.