New honey labelling rules boost Vienna beekeepers after strong harvest

Vienna beekeepers are celebrating a successful honey season as stricter European Union rules on origin labelling have come into force, ORF reported. Around 800 beekeepers operate in the city.

The new labelling requirements took effect in mid-June. Honey blends must now list all countries of origin and show the percentage from each country on the label. Previously, producers only had to state whether a blend came from within or outside the European Union.

The Vienna regional beekeeping association campaigned for greater transparency and also runs a beekeeping school in Donaupark.

Honey is the third most frequently adulterated food on the market, according to association president Kurt Krottendorfer. He said consumers should buy Austrian honey rather than products from countries such as China, because they could otherwise not be sure whether a product actually contained honey or sugar water.

Vienna has around 5,000 bee colonies. Despite dry weather, beekeepers reported a satisfactory yield. The beekeeping year ended in June, after favourable spring weather produced good quantities of acacia and chestnut honey, said Christian Trattner, head of the Vienna beekeeping school.

The school will hold an introductory day on September 12 for people interested in taking up beekeeping as a hobby.