EU HONEY TRAP

Tuesday, November 8 2011

West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass has launched a stinging attack on a European court ruling that could hit British beekeeping.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that all jars of honey may have to be relabelled to say they contain pollen and this judgment means producers will have to show the pollen is not genetically modified.

Warwickshire-based charity The British Beekeepers Association, a body which promotes the craft of beekeeping, says the implications of the ECJ ruling are clear as the judgment says pollen should be classed as a food ingredient despite pollen being naturally found in honey.

Honey manufacturers will now face the expensive prospect of relabelling and testing products to conform with the controversial EU move.

Commenting on the situation, UKIP West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass, said: “When is this all going to end?

"The EU thinks it’s the bees-knees but at every turn it produces new regulations putting our hive of industries out of business.

“Honey is a natural product and pollen is not added to honey in any man-made production process. It is interfering Brussels bureaucrats that are adding unnecessary ingredients to the mix – namely over-regulation and madness.

"Will they provide special EU bee-leads to restrain the little creatures from entering GM crops?

“This case, among countless others, shows that the European Parliament should have its own label saying ‘Warning this institution contains nuts.’

“British businesses are being stifled by expensive EU regulations and directives. It is time for us to leave the EU and make our own laws and rules in Westminster...honey”.