By Order of 5 August 1983, the quality standard for honey intended for the internal market was approved, in accordance with the requirements laid down by Council Directive 74 /409/EEC of 22 July 1974 on the harmonization of the Member States ' legislation on honey, which laid down the corresponding definitions, specified the different varieties and designations of honey which could be placed on the market and established the composition, as well as the main indications to be included in the labelling.

Council Directive 2001 /110/EC of 20 December 2001 on honey represents the new Community regulatory framework in this field, in the process of simplification and adaptation to the Community provisions of general character applicable to foodstuffs, in particular those relating to labelling, hygiene, contaminants and methods of analysis.

The incorporation of the aforementioned Directive 2001 /110/EC into the national legal system, as well as the replacement of the abovementioned Order of 5 August 1983, which is hereby repealed, constitutes the object of this royal decree which establishes the new quality standard for honey.

The methods of control provided for in the Ministerial Order of 12 June 1986, for which the official methods of analysis for honey are approved, are still in force.

However, other methods of analysis validated internationally or approved by the Codex Alimentarius may be used to verify compliance with the requirements of Directive 2001 /110/EC as long as they are adopted. new methods by the European Union.

In the process of drawing up this standard, the autonomous communities, as well as the sectors affected, have been consulted, and the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Food Management has issued its mandatory report.

This royal decree is issued under the provisions of Article 149.1.13.a and 16.a of the Constitution, which attributes to the State exclusive competence on the basis and coordination of the general planning of economic activity. and of healing.

In its virtue, on the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs, in agreement with the Council of State and after deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 1 August 2003,

D I S P O N G O:

Single item. Approval of the quality standard for honey.

The quality standard for honey is approved, the text of which is inserted after this royal decree.

Single additional disposition. Methods of analysis.

The methods of control provided for in the Ministerial Order of 12 June 1986, for which the official methods of analysis for honey are approved, are still in force.

In addition, those other methods of analysis validated internationally or approved by the Codex Alimentarius may be used to verify compliance with the provisions of Council Directive 2001 /110/EC of 20 December 2001. December 2001, concerning honey, as long as new methods are adopted by the European Union.

Single transient arrangement. Transitional regulatory regime.

1. The products covered by this royal decree may continue to be marketed until 1 August 2004, provided that they comply with the provisions in force prior to the entry into force of this royal decree.

2. However, the honey labelled before 1 August 2004 and which does not comply with the provisions of this royal decree may continue to be placed on the market until the end of its commercial life, provided that it complies with the provisions of the provisions of the in force prior to its entry into force.

Single repeal provision. Regulatory repeal.

As from the entry into force of this royal decree, all provisions of equal or lower rank are repealed as set out in it and, in particular, the Order of 5 August 1983, for which the rule is adopted quality for honey intended for the internal market.

The references made to the aforementioned Order of 5 August 1983 should be understood as referring to the quality standard for honey inserted after this royal decree.

Final disposition first. Competence title.

This royal decree is issued under the provisions of Article 149.1.13.a and 16.a of the Constitution, which attributes to the State exclusive competence on the basis and coordination of the general planning of economic activity. and of healing.

Final disposition second. Faculty of development.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs may, in the field of their powers, make the necessary arrangements for the development of the provisions of this royal decree and, where appropriate, for the updating of the quality standard, where necessary, in order to bring it into line with the rules of the European Union.

Final disposition third. Entry into force.

This royal decree will enter into force on the day following its publication in the "Official State Gazette".

Given in Palma de Mallorca, on August 1, 2003.

JOHN CARLOS R.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidency, MARIANO RAJOY BREY

Quality rule relative to honey

1. Object

This quality standard is intended to define what is meant by honey and to fix the conditions and characteristics to be met by that product for presentation, marketing and consumption in the internal market.

2. Scope of application

This quality standard shall apply to the products defined in paragraph 3, which shall comply with the composition requirements set out in paragraph 4.

3. Description, definition and naming of products

3.1 Honey is the sweet natural substance produced by the Apis mellifera bee from the nectar of plants or secretions of living parts of plants or excretions of sucking insects present in the living parts of the plants, which bees collect, transform by combining them with specific substances of their own, deposit, dehydrate, store and leave in hives to mature.

3.2 The main varieties of honey are as follows:

3.2.1 According to its source:

a) Honey of flowers or nectar honey: it is the honey that comes from the nectar of the plants.

b) Miel de mielada: it is the honey that comes from most of the excretions of plant-sucking insects (hemipters) present in the living parts of the plants or secretions of the living parts of the plants.

3.2.2 According to its elaboration or presentation:

(a) Honey in honeycomb: honey deposited by bees in the alveoli operated by nappies recently constructed by them, or in fine sheets of wax in the form of honeycomb made only with beeswax, without larvae and sold in diapers, whole or not.

b) Honey with honeycomb or honeycomb pieces cut into honey:

is honey that contains one or more pieces of honeycomb honey.

c) Drained: it is the honey that is obtained by the draining of the unoperated diapers, without larvae.

d) Centrifuged Myel: it is the honey obtained by centrifuging the unbroken, non-larvae.

e) Pressed Honey: is the honey obtained by compression of the diapers, without larvae, with or without application of moderate heat, up to a maximum of 45 oC.

f) Filtered miel: it is the honey that is obtained by eliminating organic or inorganic matter alien to honey in such a way as to generate an important removal of pollen.

3.3 Honey for industrial use: It is the appropriate honey for industrial uses or for use as an ingredient of other food products that are subsequently developed, which can:

a) present a strange taste or smell, or b) have begun to ferment or have fermented, or c) have overheated.

4. Characteristics of the composition of honey

4.1 Honey is essentially composed of different sugars, especially fructose and glucose, as well as other substances, such as organic acids, enzymes and solid particles derived from their collection.

The color of the honey can have from an almost colorless tone to a dark brown shade. It can have a smooth, thick, or crystallized consistency (partly or in full). The flavor and aroma may vary, but they are derived from plant origin.

4.2 Where honey is marketed as such, or when used in a product for human consumption, no food ingredient, including food additives, or any other food ingredient may be added to it. a substance other than honey, and must be exempt, as far as possible, from organic and inorganic materials outside its composition.

4.3 With the exception of paragraph 3.3, which relates to honey for industrial use, it must not have a foreign taste or smell or have begun to ferment, present an artificially modified degree of acidity, or heated so that the natural enzymes are destroyed or are not active.

4.4 Without prejudice to paragraph 3.2.2.f.), for filtered honey, pollen or any of its specific components may not be removed from honey except where it is unavoidable in the process of removal. of organic matter or inorganic matter to honey.

4.5 At the time of placing on the market as such or of use in any product intended for human consumption, honey must respond to the following composition characteristics:

4.5.1 Content of sugars.

(SEE IMAGES PAGES 30182 AND 30183).

a) Fructose and glucose content (sum of both):

1.o Flower Miel. ... .. .. .. .. .. not less than 60 g/100 g.

2 Miel of myelin, mixtures of honey of myelin with honey of flowers ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...............................

b) sucrose content:

1.o Overall. ... .. .. .. .. ... N o m a s d e 5 g/100 g 2.o Falsa acacia "Robinia pseudoacacia", alfalfa "Medicago sativa", Banksia de Menzies "Banksia menziesii", Sulla "Hedysarum", Eucalyptus red "Eucalyptus camaldulensis", Eukryphia lucida, Eukrypia milliganii, Citrus spp .. ... ... not more than 10 g/100 g

3.o Esliego "Lavandula spp.", delete "Borago officinalis". not more than 15 g/100 g

4.5.2 Water content:

1.o In general .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. no more than 20% 2.o Miel de brezo "Calluna" and honey for industrial use in general no more than 23% 3.o Miel de brezo "Calluna vulgaris" for industrial use .. .... not more than 25%

4.5.3 Water insoluble solids content:

1.o In general .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. no more than 0,1 g/100 g 2.o pressed Miel ... .. .. .. ........ not more than 0,5 g/100 g

4.5.4 Electrical conductivity:

1 Honey not included in the enumeration of the two paragraphs below, and mixtures of these honey ... ... .. .. .......................... not more than 0,8 mS/c 2 Miel of honey and chestnut honey, and mixtures thereof, with the exception of the honey listed below ... not less than 0,8 mS/cm 3.o Exceptions: madrone "Arbutus unedo", argana "Erica", eucalyptus, "Tilia spp", heather "Calluna vulgaris", manuka or jelly bush "Leptospermum", tea tree "Melaleuca spp.".

4.5.5 Free Aids:

1.o In general .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. no more than 50 milliequivalents of acids per 1000 g 2.o Miel for industrial use .. .. .. no more than 80 milliequivalents of acids per 1000 g

4.5.6 Diastasic index and content in hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), determined after preparation and mixing.

a) Diastasic index (Schade scale):

1.o In general, except honey for industrial use .. .. .. .. .. ............ ... Not less than 8 2.o Miels with a low natural content of enzymes (e.g. citrus honey) and a HMF content not exceeding 15 mg/kg .. .. .. .. ................................. not less than 3

b) HMF:

1.o In general, except honey for industrial use .. .. .. .. .. ............ ... not more than 40 mg/kg (subject to the provisions of paragraph (a)). 2.o Míel of origin declared coming from regions of tropical climate and mixtures of these honey ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. no more than 80 mg/kg.

5. Labelling

5.1 The General Standard for the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, approved by Royal Decree 1334/1999 of 31 July, shall apply to the products defined in paragraph 3 above, relating to: description, definition and description of the products, according to the following conditions:

5.1.1 The term "honey" shall apply only to the product defined in paragraph 3.1, relating to the definition of honey, and shall be used in trade to designate that product.

5.1.2 The names referred to in paragraph 3.2, relating to the main varieties of honey, and paragraph 3.3, relating to honey for industrial use, shall be reserved for products which are defined and must be use in trade to designate them. These names may be replaced by the term "honey", except in cases of filtered honey, honey in honeycomb, honey with pieces of honeycomb or honeycomb cut in honey, and honey for industrial use.

However, a) In the case of honey for industrial use, the expression "only for cooking" will appear on the label in the immediate proximity of the denomination.

(b) Those names, except in the case of filtered honey and honey for industrial use, may be completed with indications referring to:

1.o The floral or vegetable origin, if the product is wholly or largely from the indicated origin and if it has the organoleptic, physico-chemical and microscopic characteristics of that origin.

2.o Regional, territorial or topographical origin, if the product proceeds entirely from the indicated origin.

3.o A specific quality criteria.

5.1.3 When honey for industrial use has been used as an ingredient in a compound food, the term "honey" may be used in the name of such compound food instead of the term "honey for industrial use". However, the full term referred to in paragraph 3.3 concerning honey for industrial use shall be used in the list of ingredients.

5.1.4 The country or countries of origin in which honey has been harvested should be mentioned on the label.

However, in the case of mixtures, if the honey is originating in more than one Member State or third country, that indication may be replaced by one of the following, as appropriate:

1 "mixture of honey originating in the EC", 2 "mixture of non-EC honey honey", 3 "mixture of honey originating in and non-originating in the EC".

5.1.5 For the purposes of the General Standard for the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, approved by Royal Decree 1334/1999 of 31 July, in particular Articles 15 and 17 thereof, be indicated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5.1.4 above shall be considered as compulsory labelling particulars in accordance with Article 5 of that standard.

5.2 In the case of filtered honey and honey for industrial use, bulk containers, packaging and commercial documentation shall clearly indicate the full name, as indicated, respectively, in the case of: Paragraphs 3.2.2.( f), relating to filtered honey, as well as in paragraph 3.3, relating to honey for industrial use.