What can be done?

Real Honey Needs Real Action

Consumers Hold the Key

Every one of us can help clean up the honey market. Whether you’re a consumer, retailer, or part of the food industry — your choices and your voice have impact.

When customers demand honest honey, politics and the marketplace must respond. The pressure from below gives weight to the demands we make at the top.

And the most effective way to create lasting change?
Become a Supporting Member of the EPBA.

Become a Supporting Member

Join the front line in the fight for Real Honey

By supporting the European Professional Beekeepers Association (EPBA), you’re helping professional beekeepers across Europe:

Fight honey fraud and push for stronger EU legislation
Conduct and fund advanced DNA-based authenticity testing
Educate the public on the truth behind supermarket honey
Strengthen rural economies and protect the livelihoods of real beekeepers
Safeguard pollination and food security for future generations

Whether you’re a business, a beekeeper, a retailer, or a concerned citizen — your contribution counts.

➡ Monthly or annual plans available.

➡ Transparent use of funds.

➡ Every euro defends truth in food.

What else you can do

As a Consumer:

Buy local: The safest choice is to buy honey directly from your local beekeeper. They can tell you exactly how and where their honey is made — and they stand behind it with their name.
Look for full labeling: In supermarkets, check for the producer’s name and address. Transparency matters.
Watch the price: If it’s too cheap to be true, it probably is. Even in China, real honey cannot be produced for €1.99 per 500g.

As a Retailer or Food Business:

Request proof of authenticity from your suppliers.
Use DNA testing to verify the honey in your product line.
Show your customers you care — by backing real beekeepers and honest honey.

DNA Testing: A Breakthrough in Honesty

Traditional testing methods often miss the mark. Fraudsters now blend syrups so skillfully that standard sugar proﬁling can’t keep up.

That’s why EPBA supports DNA-based metagenomic analysis — a cutting-edge method that reveals the full genetic signature of a honey sample, even down to the bees’ forage region.

In 2024 alone, EPBA members used DNA testing to uncover fake honey in over 80% of tested supermarket products.

You can test your own honey, too — whether you’re a consumer or a producer. We work with reliable labs like Celvia (Estonia) and Sinsoma (Austria).

Together, We Can Restore Trust in Honey

📢 Raise awareness.
💶 Become a supporting member.
🧪 Test what you eat.
🛒 Shop with intention.
🐝 Stand with Europe’s real beekeepers. The EPBA is leading the way — and you can be part of it.

For Businesses: Turn Responsibility into Reputation

Whether you supply equipment, produce honey, or sell food products — your support matters. By becoming a Supporting Member of the EPBA, your company actively helps remove fake honey from the market, promotes pollinator protection, and earns visible recognition for ethical leadership.

New Contribution Levels for High-Impact Support

Company Type	Suggested Annual Contribution	Monthly Option
Local retailer / beekeeper cooperative	250 €	€22/month
Mid-sized beekeeping supplier or distributor	750 €	€65/month
Equipment manufacturer / processing company	2,500 €	€210/month
National or EU-level association	5,000 €	€420/month
Retail chain / food brand with honey products	10,000 €	On request

Membership Beneﬁts for Companies:

✔ Use of the EPBA Supporter Seal

✔ Recognition in campaigns, website, and media

✔ Access to exclusive authenticity reports & lab data

✔ Participation in stakeholder roundtables

✔ Positioning as a leader in food transparency

Quick form, ﬂexible invoicing, tax-deductible (where applicable).

For Beekeepers: Defend Your Profession

Are you a professional beekeeper?
The EPBA represents your interests at the highest level — in Brussels and beyond. Through our campaigns, DNA testing efforts, and public awareness strategies, we are ﬁghting for:

Fair honey prices
Clear labeling laws
Protection from unfair competition
Recognition of your work’s ecological value

Support us – and show your customers you stand for real honey.

For individual beekeepers, we offer symbolic supporting memberships starting at €60/year (€5/month).

📄 Want to share the mission?

👉 Download the EPBA Info-Flyer here and distribute it at your market stand, shop, or honey jar!