The report from Beekeeping Development Committee has been received and is currently under examination. Action on the report will follow thereafter.
 

The export of honey and other bee hive products is being regulated by the Export Inspection Council (EIC), Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The export of Honey has been brought under mandatory certification vide GOI Order & Notification No. S.O. 276(E) & S.O. 277 (E) both dated 04.03.2002 and standards are defined in the said notification.
Further, the domestic standards for Honey are prescribed by Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under sub Regulations 2.8.3 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. The Export of a commodity has to comply with domestic standards unless the importing country has specified different standards which an exporter is obliged to comply with.

It is also mentioned that the farmers/beekeepers are being trained/facilitated for practising scientific beekeeping by adopting advisories on Good Beekeeping Practices (GBPs), among others, which includes use of Stainless Steel (SS)/Food Grade Plastic honey extractors, containers and other bee hive tools /equipments etc. and also to ensure that only ripened honey i.e. honey from more than 75% sealed frames, is extracted.

This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha today.

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APS/JP