COMPARISON OF INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY OF BEEKEEPING PRODUCTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64378/iriush.journals.2025.1.1Keywords:
honey, propolis, bee pollen, food products, regulatory standardsAbstract
Most countries around the world have regulatory requirements for food raw materials and food products. However, the requirements for the same product often vary across different countries, which creates challenges in international trade, including the export and import of food. To facilitate the use of uniform and harmonized standards, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was established. ISO develops international standards and requirements in various spheres of human activity. At the same time, many countries retain their own national standards. This article presents a comparative analysis of international and national regulatory requirements for key beekeeping products — honey, bee pollen, and propolis — in order to determine their compliance with modern quality and safety criteria for further use in food production. The analysis included international standards and regulations, as well as those of Poland, Ukraine, Switzerland, Brazil, and the European Union. It was found that the strictest requirements for honey in terms of moisture content (no more than 18.5% for the highest grade) and diastase number (no less than 8) are set by DSTU 4497. For bee pollen, DSTU 3127 stipulates a maximum moisture content of 10% and protein content of not less than 22%, exceeding the minimum ISO standards. DSTU 4662 requirements for propolis limit the wax content to 15%, ash content to 5%, and specify a minimum level of oxidized substances — at least 0.6 cm³ per 1 mg of propolis. Regarding safety indicators, Ukrainian standards define the lowest permissible levels of heavy metals: lead (≤0.1 mg/kg), cadmium (≤0.05 mg/kg), and mercury (≤0.03 mg/kg), and prohibit the presence of foreign impurities and pathogenic microorganisms. The European Union Regulation is one of the key documents referenced during honey import into its territory, requiring mandatory compliance with established indicators. Some physicochemical and safety parameters are included in the regulations of certain countries but not in others, or are considered in national regulations but not in international standards. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that compliance with the minimum requirements of international standards, EU regulations, or Ukrainian standards ensures that beekeeping products are safe and suitable for use as raw materials in food production. The findings of this research can be used by manufacturers, exporters, and food technologists to make informed decisions when selecting raw materials, taking into account the specific regulatory requirements of different countries and regions, and also for the development of food products containing beekeeping ingredients.
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