Honey Directive 2001/110/EC is the EU instrument that defines honey and its reserved descriptions, establishes composition criteria and sets labelling rules, including origin declaration requirements, for honey placed on the EU market.
In trade practice
Exporters and importers use the directive’s composition criteria as the baseline for quality specifications covering parameters such as moisture content, diastase activity and hydroxymethylfurfural levels. Each Member State implements the directive in national law, so buyers should confirm which national transposition applies to their market. Authenticity testing, including pollen analysis and isotope ratio methods, is used to verify that the product matches its declared botanical and geographical origin. Mislabelling of origin or botanical type is a recurring enforcement finding at EU border controls.
In a specification
A honey supply specification typically references Directive 2001/110/EC and lists the reserved description applicable to the product, such as blossom honey or honeydew honey, alongside the declared country of origin.