In a decisive move to safeguard consumers and support local apiarists, the Cypriot parliament has ratified stringent new legislation governing the labelling and definition of honey. The amendments, passed on June 6, 2024, establish clearer standards to distinguish pure honey from adulterated mixtures and lower-quality products. Set to come into force on June 13, 2025, the law represents a significant alignment with broader European Union directives and aims to eliminate widespread market confusion.
The impetus for these regulatory changes stems from growing concerns over the proliferation of products that, while marketed under the banner of honey, often contain minimal amounts of the genuine article. For years, industry advocates have argued that ambiguous labelling has allowed blends of sweeteners and flavourings to masquerade as authentic honey, undermining consumer trust and placing honest beekeepers at a competitive disadvantage. The Cypriot Health Ministry’s Health Services spearheaded the legislative overhaul to rectify this opaque marketplace.
Central to the new "2025 Honey Regulations" is the outright prohibition of the term "filtered honey" on product labels. Under the revised framework, this designation will be reserved for honey that has undergone processes removing intrinsic components such as pollen—a practice often associated with inferior quality. Furthermore, the law mandates unambiguous disclosure of the geographic origin of all honey and stipulates that any product containing a blend must declare the precise percentage of actual honey within the mixture.
Perhaps the most pivotal reform is the expansion of the legal definition for "confectionery honey." This category will now explicitly encompass honey from which extraneous organic or inorganic substances, along with significant quantities of pollen, have been extracted. By broadening this classification, authorities create a distinct, regulated category for lower-grade products, thereby insulating the market for pure, unadulterated honey. Polydoros Costas, President of the Cyprus Beekeepers’ Association, welcomed the changes, stating, "Consumers think that the products they buy contain honey, unaware that they contain a liquid substance, with a sweetener and a little aroma." He further emphasised that many current offerings "do not constitute true honey products."
The practical implications for the industry are substantial. Importers and domestic producers are granted a six-month grace period following the law’s enactment to secure detailed information from their suppliers and redesign their packaging to meet the stringent new criteria. After June 14, 2025, the Health Services will initiate active monitoring and enforcement, with non-compliant goods facing removal from shelves.
This legislative package is anticipated to have a profound impact on the Cypriot food sector. Consumers will benefit from enhanced transparency, enabling informed purchasing decisions based on accurate origin and composition data. For local beekeepers, the regulations promise a more level playing field, protecting the integrity of their craft against cheaper, misleading alternatives. As the implementation date approaches, the focus will shift to industry adaptation and the rigorous enforcement that will ultimately determine the success of Cyprus’s endeavour to redefine and defend the quality of its honey.