Question : Guidelines for Honey

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the beekeepers in Kerala are unable to comply with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guideline for keeping humidity level in honey less than 20 percent due to the natural factors making it impossible for honey produced in Kerala to have humidity level below 25 percent;
(b) if so, the details thereof
(c) whether the Government proposes to give any exemption in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that it had received representations from Federation of Indigenous Apiculturists and All Kerala Beekeepers Association on the said matter.
The issue was deliberated in the 15th meeting of Scientific panel on Sweets, Confectionery, Sugar, Sweetener and Honey and it was agreed to review the limit of moisture content in Honey. Accordingly, 50 honey samples exclusively from Kerala were collected and analyzed at National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Kerala. The analysis report has been received. No further relaxation has been recommended by the Scientific Panel.