Initial Gathering of the Honey Network
The Slovenian scientific committee, led by Dr. Urška Ratajc, recently had a significant breakthrough at the first meeting of the Honey Platform. The meeting, which took place on November 6, 2024, in Brussels, was held in a hybrid format, allowing representatives to attend either in person or via video conference.
The Honey Platform, an organization focused on the safety and quality of bee products, was established following a call for applications by the European Commission in June 2024. From an initial pool of 33 applications, only 8 organizations were selected to participate.
At the meeting, Dr. Ratajc's committee presented a proposal answering the European Commission's specific questions regarding composition criteria for honey and improving authenticity controls. The proposal was met with approval, and it was subsequently adopted and confirmed by the Executive Board.
Following the meeting, the proposal was sent to the European Commission for further consideration. The Honey Platform has decided to meet twice a year, with written communication taking place in the interim.
Dr. Urška Ratajc, who serves as the Head of the Scientific Committees for the European Beekeeping Association and the Food Safety Advisor for the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association, was present at the meeting, though the search results do not provide information on whether she attended via video conference or in person.
The Honey Platform's next meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2025. The organization's efforts aim to ensure the continued safety and quality of bee products across Europe, contributing significantly to the beekeeping industry.
- The proposal presented by Dr. Urška Ratajc's committee at the Honey Platform meeting, focusing on composition criteria for honey and improving authenticity controls, gained approval and was subsequently adopted by the Executive Board.
- The Honey Platform, an organization dedicated to the safety and quality of bee products, has decided to hold meetings twice a year, supplemented with written communication during interim periods.
- The Slovenian scientific committee, led by Dr. Urška Ratajc, is a member of the Honey Platform, an association that was established in response to a call for applications by the European Commission for health-and-wellness and food-and-drink policy-and-legislation initiatives.
- The Honey Platform's work is significant as it aims to maintain the safety and quality of bee products across Europe, contributing positively to the overall general-news landscape of the beekeeping industry and the related science and lifestyle sectors.
