A new law will tighten honey labelling requirements in Cyprus

A law establishing new rules for defining and labelling honey has been adopted in Cyprus and will enter into force on 13 June 2025. The amendments were introduced by the Health Services of the Ministry of Health and approved last week.

The law introduces a ban on the use of the term “filtered honey” on labels, requires indicating the country of origin and the percentage of honey in blends, and clarifies the concept of confectionery honey to exclude misleading products. According to the text of the law, “filtered honey” is defined as a product that has undergone filtration removing natural components such as pollen, which is considered undesirable for consumers.

Importers are required to explicitly state both the country of origin and the proportion of honey in mixed products on the packaging. Producers are given six months to obtain the necessary information from suppliers and update the labelling. The Health Services will monitor compliance with the new requirements after 14 June.

Polidoros Kostas, president of the Beekeepers’ Association, said the new rules will help consumers distinguish real honey from sweetened blends and confectionery products marketed as honey.