European Union (EU) - Export requirements for honey

Eligible/ineligible product

Eligible

• Canadian honey, royal jelly and other apiculture products prepared in a federally registered or licensed honey establishment
• Imported honey from a country that is eligible to export to the EU, blended with Canadian honey and packed in a registered honey establishment
• Imported honey from a country that is eligible to export to the EU, unblended with Canadian honey and repacked in a registered honey establishment

Note: Bee products for human consumption, such as honeycomb (comb honey), flavoured honey, royal jelly, bee propolis, and bee pollen, are also regulated under the Food and Drugs Act, the Food and Drugs Regulations. Additionally, honey for human consumption is regulated under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

Pre-export approvals by the competent authority of the importing country

Establishments

• Establishments must operate using HACCP principles (see Preventive control plan (PCP) for domestic guidance) as stipulated in Commission Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Product specifications

Maximum levels for chemical contaminants

• Products must meet the requirements, as they relate to honey, for veterinary drug residues according to Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products.

Production controls and inspection requirements

• The exporter should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regional office closest to where the shipment will be loaded at least seven (7) business days before the scheduled date of shipment, and request the following documents:
  • Request to export honey to the European Union
  • Exporter's declaration for the export of honey to the European Union
• The exporter may be required to provide additional information to the CFIA to support the submission of the above documents and ultimate certification (for example: certificates of analysis).

Imported honey

• If the product contains imported honey from another country, either as part of a blend or as a repackaged product, the source country must be listed as approved in the Annex of Decision 2004/432/EC of 29 April 2004 on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC.
• The export certificate that accompanied the imported honey should be provided to CFIA staff to verify that the attestations on the source country certificate meet the EU import requirements.

Documentation requirements

Certificate

Note: Model certificates must be in the language acceptable to the border entry point.

• Health certificate for imports of honey and other apiculture products intended for human consumption

Other information

Member countries of the European Union (EU)