Honey - Beekeeping

A new version of the text below is currently being prepared

In June 1997, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1221/97, which is intended to help improve the production and marketing of honey in the European Union. The Regulation gives Member States the chance to lay down national annual programmes, in close cooperation with trade organisations and cooperatives. The five priority measures that may be included in the programmes are:

• technical assistance,
• control of varroasis,
• rationalisation of transhumance,
• measures to support laboratories carrying out analyses of honey and
• applied research to improve the quality of honey.

In November 1997, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2300/97 laid down detailed rules to implement the Council Regulation. Among other things, these detailed rules govern arrangements for:

• the content of the national programmes
• the date of notification of programmes
• the distribution formula for Community financing and
• points to be covered in studies of the structure of the sector.

The Member States have carried out their studies of the beekeeping sector, covering the production and marketing structures and price formation.

Further information:

Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey (OJ L 10, 12.1.2002)
Summary

Second report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of Council regulation (EC) N° 1221/97 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey (24/01/2004) [COM(2004)30 final] [Text - Annexes pdf]

Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1221/97 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey (16/02/2001) [COM(2001)70 final] [Text - Annexes pdf]

Legal basis:

Council Regulation (EC) No 1221/97 of 25 June 1997 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey (OJ L 173, 1.7.1997) (Consolidated text)
Summary

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2300/97 of 20 November 1997 on detailed rules to implement Council Regulation (EC) No 1221/97 laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey (OJ L 319, 21.11.1997) (Consolidated text)