The first two standard practices mentioned in my last blog post, are industry regulated and help ensure that customers are not being cheated when buying the product. They also ensure that the beekeeper does not face a price war when there is a shortage in honey supply as happened in 2017 where due to weather and disease the honey yield was far lower than in previous years. Some of the effects of this situation included a spike in local honey prices and several counterfeit products being sold as the genuine thing. While the spike in prices can be justifiable as production and maintenance costs still needed to be covered, the market was negatively affected by the counterfeit products with the consequences still being felt to this day. It is unjustifiable to sell a product under false pretences, and during this crisis, some beekeepers resorted to selling honey from other Mediterranean countries, mainly from Italy and Sicily, and labelling it as the genuine Maltese product. This is where government regulation is essential in order to assure the consumer that this does not happen again.
The Maltese government has taken measures to identify specific qualities and markers in Maltese honey to be able to test the product and fight the possibility of counterfeit products flooding the market again. This does not limit the importation of foreign honey, as under both Maltese and international law one may sell foreign products if clearly labelled. Therefore beekeepers who experience a shortage can still supply their clients with honey labelled as European or as from the country of origin, so they are not doing this under false pretences and therefore they are making their customers aware. Ensuring that their customers’ demands are met and satisfied in an ethical way.
With the increase of regulations, beekeepers are now required to label which type of Maltese honey is being sold. The three main variations being: Multiflora, Wild Thyme, and Carob and Eucalyptus which are harvested in Spring (end of May), Summer (mid-June) and Winter, respectfully. They are required to label any modifications made to the product. The method by which honey is extracted and harvested is also defined in the law.
If you would like to know more about the laws regulating the Maltese Honey market and products please refer to this link to the Maltese law
http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=11115&l=1
