- Honey is a valuable product with many health properties, but unfortunately, the market is flooded with fakes.
- Almost half of the honey imported into the EU may be adulterated, mainly from China and Turkey.
- New EU regulations, coming into force in 2026, are intended to restrict the sale of honey without natural pollen.
Produced for thousands of years, it is used not only in the food industry, but also in cosmetology and natural medicine. Natural honey has many health-promoting properties. Rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, it helps fight free radicals in the body, which translates into delaying the aging process and protection against lifestyle diseases. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties thanks to the presence of hydrogen peroxide and low pH, which makes it an effective treatment for upper respiratory tract infections, relieving cough and sore throat. Moreover, honey supports digestion, has a prebiotic effect by nourishing the beneficial intestinal bacterial flora, and can also support the healing of wounds and burns, accelerating tissue regeneration. Honey also generally does not expire. Archaeologists have discovered that honey found in Egyptian tombs was still edible.
Unfortunately, it is also very often counterfeited. Experts estimate that almost half of the honey imported into the European Union is not of natural origin. The main markets for counterfeit honey are China and Türkiye. New EU regulations are intended to limit this practice.
From June 14, 2026, these products will be banned. No more fake honey?
In mid-June 2026, the new law resulting from the regulation of the Minister of Agriculture of December 10, 2025 will come into force. It will tighten the criteria for products sold under the name honey. In practice, this means that products from which not only impurities but also natural pollen have been removed will not be able to be sold as standard honey. Additionally, the removal of pollen by ultrafiltration is intended to hide the real one and prevent the identification of its botanical composition, which is crucial in assessing authenticity.
The filtration processes used remove pollen from honey. This affects the appearance and durability of the product, but also deprives it of its natural properties. From June 14, such products will no longer be able to be sold as honey. This applies to new products introduced to the market. Products launched before June 14 will be sold while stocks last. Importantly, the new regulations do not change the existing rules for naming natural honey. They only mean the removal of the filtered honey category.
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