European apiculture. Discussion paper

In her report on the situation of beekeeping in Europe the rapporteur, Mrs Lulling (EPP, L), called for immediate action to support beekeeping, ideally within the framework of a common organisation of the market (COM) in honey. Although not necessarily in favour of the creation of a COM in honey, Commissioner Padraig Flynn stated that the Commission accepted the recommendations contained in this report. He recognised the need to support Community producers given that 50% of the Union’s honey requirements were currently met by imports. He was also in favour of establishing measures to improve marketing and research, combat bee diseases and ensure better checks of the quality of imported honey. As regards labelling, reference to a product’s origin should be compulsory in the near future.