EU bans ‘toxic’ honey imports from India

European Union has banned imports of honey on account of presence of heavy metals.

The government today informed Parliament that the European Union has banned imports of honey from India on account of presence of heavy metals in the consignments.

“The EU has banned the export of honey from India on account of positive detection of heavy metals and other contaminants…,” Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Following the ban,a detailed action plan was prepared by the Export Inspection Council and communicated to the European Commission.

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The action plan addresses all the raised issues and puts in motion a system to ensure that honey export from India to the EU is free of contaminants,Scindia said.

“…the steps undertaken include: rigorous testing of samples,educating bee producers on the contamination arising from lead tins,discouraging the use of tetracycline and sulphonamides at the primary level,” he added.

The Drug Controller of India has issued instruction to state authorities with regard to prohibition of sale of these drugs to farmers without prescription,the minister added.

The EU is the second largest destination for Indian honey exports after the US. India exports honey to over 60 nations.

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India’s honey exports totalled USD 32.39 million in 2008-09,a quarter (USD 7.7 million) of which went to the EU.