Increase of the quota for duty-free honey exports from Ukraine
The European Union has increased the quota for duty-free honey supplies from Ukraine from 6 thousand tons to 35 thousand tons, opening new opportunities for Ukrainian beekeepers. This decision was announced by Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, at the end of October. It is expected that honey exports this year may reach 40 thousand tons.
Despite the positive news for exporters, the Ukrainian honey harvest has been the smallest in recent years due to climate change and war. Ukraine has 62 thousand registered apiaries, and the annual honey production amounts to 100-110 thousand tons. At the same time, there are 29 honey exporters and 30 laboratories for honey product testing, of which 25 are accredited.
EU Directive and Stages of Honey Export
In May 2022, the European Union adopted Directive 1438, which changes the requirements for honey products. The changes will come into effect in June 2025, particularly regarding honey labeling. If the honey is collected in one country, that country is specified. In the case of honey from several countries (up to four), the countries are listed in descending order with percentage ratios. If there are more than four countries, all are listed, but percentages are given only for the four largest shares. For small batches of honey (up to 30 grams), the country is marked with a two-letter code.
Exporting honey to the EU requires several stages:
- Contacting the territorial authority for apiary inspection;
- Obtaining a veterinary and sanitary passport;
- Registering the apiary with the state and obtaining a unique number;
- Inspecting facilities for compliance with export requirements;
- Getting included in the list of EU-approved exporting companies;
- Inclusion in the list of facilities by the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection;
- Conducting laboratory tests on each batch in accredited laboratories;
- Obtaining an international export certificate for each batch;
- Registering in the Traces system.
Eduard Krychfalushy, an expert in beekeeping, notes that the volume of global orders for Ukrainian honey exceeds the harvested crop. He emphasizes that there is currently a critical need for up-to-date statistics on honey production. According to him, quality, authenticity, and responsibility are the basis of future beekeeping in Ukraine. Thus, the increase in the honey export quota can be an important step for the development of the industry, but challenges related to yield and product quality remain relevant.
The increase in the duty-free honey export quota from Ukraine demonstrates a positive step in supporting Ukrainian producers in the international market. However, given the reduction in yield and the necessity to comply with new standards, it is essential for Ukrainian beekeepers to adapt to the changes and invest in improving product quality. In the context of global competition, ensuring high quality standards may become the key to successful exports and the development of the honey industry in Ukraine.