The Ministry of Industry proposed applying identification marks to food industry products.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation has put forward a proposal to mark honey and other bee products with special identification labels to verify their authenticity and quality. This initiative is part of a broader effort to expand the current system of mandatory labeling for various food items.
Currently, dairy products (including milk, cottage cheese, cheese, tan, and ayran), drinking water, alcohol, and cigarettes are subject to mandatory labeling. With the start of the proposed experiment, identification marks will also be applied to grains, cereals, legumes, and other milling and cereal products intended for consumption after heat treatment, as well as to instant potatoes and breakfast cereals (including those that do not require cooking).
Honey and its derivatives, such as bee bread and propolis, including artificial honey, are also slated for labeling. However, this requirement will only apply to products packaged in factory settings. Beekeepers selling honey directly at markets will not be affected by this new regulation.
The experiment to introduce these identification methods for new food categories is planned to commence on August 1st of the current year. A decision on whether to continue mandatory labeling for these products beyond the experimental phase will be made by March 1st of the following year, based on whether it is economically feasible and provides significant benefits.
The developers of the draft resolution express hope that implementing this labeling system will enhance food safety and security.
