Kathmandu, October 25:

Export of Nepali honey, once greatly in demand in Europe, is likely to resume soon due to latest efforts being made related to quality testing to meet the European standard.

The European Union banned import of Nepali honey in 2002, stating the quality of Nepali honey was not as per the European standard. Use of pesticides in bee keeping and brood harvesting were major reasons that have completely halted honey exports for the last three years.

Nepali honey is famous in Europe, especially in Scandinavian countries and about 100 metric tonnes (MT) of honey used to be exported from Nepal every year. Gandaki Bee Concern, a leading private honey producer and exporter, with help from Franks Bigård, a Denmark-based leading honey importer, is eyeing to resume exports to EU. For this, both parties have agreed to carry out lab testing in a EU recognised laboratory in Germany.

“Quality testing and documentation as per Residual Control and Monitoring System will be carried out in Germany soon. We will resume exports once quality certification and documentation is approved,” said Dev Bahadur Gurung, executive chairman of Gandaki Bee Concern.

“Though Nepal still needs to do a lot, we are hopeful at resuming imports from Nepal soon,” said Brinkmann Karsten, head of Franks Bigård. He also informed that Nepali honey holds an immense potential in European markets. Karsten, however, noted that quality of the honey must comply with the Codex Alimentarious Standard, which is acceptable in EU. Under this standard, Nepal must have basic laboratory facilities for quality testing and proper documentation of harvesting, collection, storage and packaging, he said.

“Other important points to be noted are contamination of pesticide residual, which must be nil. Brood harvesting is also another major reason that EU cannot accept Nepali honey, while moisture content should be less than 16 per cent in pure honey,” Karsten added.

According to him, honey imported from Bulgaria, Romania, New Zealand and South American countries like Brazil, Argentina and Chile are doing quite well in the European markets. “So, why not Nepali honey, since Nepal’s rich biodiversity is god-gifted for producing pure natural honey,” Karsten added.

“It would be a great achievement even if export of Nepali honey resumes to couple of European countries. For this, upgrading of technology, quality control and branding are necessary,” said Gurung.

Nepali honey is famous for its fragrance, deliciousness and thickness owing to fresh climatic environment and diverse geographical structures with a number of medicinal plants. Nepali honey is used as nourishing food as well as for medicinal purposes in European countries.

Although there is no official record available, about 1,000 MT of honey worth two billion rupees is produced at present in Nepal. “Commercial beekeeping holds a tremendous potential in Nepal. Nepal can earn as much as Rs 12 billion a year if honey is produced throughout the country,” Gurung added.