HARMONIZATION OF HONEY QUALITY AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL, EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS
Abstract
The article presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of national, European, and international regulatory requirements for the quality, authenticity, and safety of bee honey. The relevance of the study is determined by the fragmented nature of regulatory control, whereby certain honey parameters are established by specific product standards, while others are governed by horizontal regulatory acts concerning contaminants, pesticide residues, veterinary medicinal products, and radionuclides. The study was based on DSTU 4497:2005, the current Ukrainian Requirements for Honey, national regulations on contaminants and radionuclides, Council Directive 2001/110/EC, Regulation (EU) 2023/915, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Regulation (EU) No 37/2010, Regulation (EU) 2019/1871, CXS 12-1981, and CXS 193-1995. The methods applied included documentary search, regulatory mapping, content analysis, systematization, and comparative analysis. A high degree of harmonization was established between the current Ukrainian Requirements for Honey and EU legislation regarding product definition, classification, and the main physicochemical parameters. At the same time, DSTU 4497:2005 retains a specific system of dividing honey into quality grades and includes certain indicators that are absent from the mandatory requirements of the EU and Codex Alimentarius. The most significant discrepancies were identified in relation to toxic elements, pesticide residues, pharmacologically active substances, and radionuclides. It was demonstrated that the current horizontal requirements of Ukraine, the EU, and Codex Alimentarius are aligned regarding the maximum level of lead in honey at 0.10 mg/kg, whereas DSTU 4497:2005 establishes a level of 1.0 mg/kg. It was shown that direct comparison of individual regulatory limits is possible only with due consideration of measurement units, analytical methods, calculation basis, product category, and the legal nature of the relevant criterion. The feasibility of developing an integrated regulatory matrix for honey was substantiated as a tool for assessing the degree of harmonization, identifying regulatory conflicts and gaps, and determining directions for further improvement of the national regulatory framework. The results may be used to improve honey control systems and to assess compliance with the requirements of domestic and international markets.
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