Subject: Did You Know South Africa is Excluded?

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Why is South Africa Currently Excluded From Exporting Honey to the European Union & UK?

And South Africa is ONE OF 52 African countries excluded at present after changes were recently made as explained below.

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What Changed That South Africa, Namibia and many other African Nations are off the "Approved List" for exporting to EU & UK?

By investigating the regulatory terrain of honey trade, it becomes clear that it is not a case of an explicit ban on South Africa/Namibia nor Africa exporting honey, but rather a matter of not yet being listed under the stringent export-rules for honey into the European Commission (EC) / Food Standards Agency (UK) networks, and recent rule-changes that reshape access.
Below is a summary of why this situation persists, and what it means in practice for South African honey producers.

Beekeepers of South Africa! Get Training In Midrand.

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Key reasons...

Absence from the authorised “third-country” list for honey

For a non-EU country to export honey (or apiculture products) to the EU, it must be included in a special list of third countries (via Regulation (EU) 2021/405 and supporting legislation) that have submitted and had approved a Residue Monitoring Plan (RMP) or equivalent system.
According to the latest public-health list of countries authorised to export animals and products of animal origin, South Africa is not listed for honey. The list update of January 2024 confirms that for honey, only countries such as Morocco and Rwanda had submitted compliant plans and were approved.
In other words: even if South African honey meets many quality criteria, its country-wide framework for controlling residues/contaminants or listing establishments has yet to satisfy the EU’s formal criteria for honey.

2. New tightened rules on honey-establishments and traceability

Since November 2024, the EU introduced a requirement that every establishment exporting honey (or apiculture products) must appear on a public Commission “Establishments List” (via TRACES-NT) of the non-EU country. Only honey from those listed establishments may be exported.

This means that even if a country is listed, individual processors/exporters must be formally listed too — which increases the administrative burden and raises the compliance bar.

South Africa appears to be working in that direction, but the listing is not yet completed in the honey-category.

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3. Heightened EU concerns over honey fraud, adulteration and residues

The EU’s regulatory stance has become more stringent because of investigations finding up to 46 % of imported honeys were suspected of adulteration.

Thus, the threshold for non-EU countries to gain or maintain listing has become higher in recent years.

Compliance is being judged more sharply on traceability, residue testing, hygiene systems and documentation.

UK regime and post-Brexit alignment

While the UK now operates its post-Brexit rules (via the Animal and Plant Health Agency and other agencies), for honey and products of animal origin the UK adopts broadly similar standards to the EU.

Exporters from South Africa therefore face the same kind of requirement to be formally approved and meet UK export health certification, listing of establishments, etc.

The UK guidance states that honey (as a product of animal origin) needs export-health certificates, listing of establishments, and that non-UK countries must satisfy UK food-safety, traceability and documentation requirements.

So, What Now?

In short: South Africa’s honey sector is not prohibited per se from exporting to the EU or UK, but is not yet formally approved under the required regulatory frameworks for honey exports. This means exporters face major hurdles in obtaining importation into those jurisdictions.

And, it has been brought to our attention that honey under 2kg sent for an international honey competition in October has been rejected by UK ports authorities stating that Namibia* is not approved for export to the country. {The same would likely apply to an entrant from South Africa too.}

Please let us know if you have had a similar experience with the International Honey Awards that took place recently in the UK and your honey was rejected or not!?

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What Is Required For Approval By South Africa

1. Designate the Competent Authority & submit a Residue Monitoring Plan (RMP) The non-EU country must designate a competent authority responsible for food-of-animal-origin exports (including honey), set up a monitoring regime for residues (veterinary medicines, contaminants, pesticides) in honey, and submit a plan to the EC for review. (BfD Resource Centre)

South Africa’s agriculture/food-safety authority (e.g., Dept of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development) must submit such a plan targeted specifically at honey/apiculture products.

Evidence suggests this has not yet been accepted for honey.

2. Demonstrate equivalence of food-safety/hygiene regime The country must show its legislation, official controls, inspections, traceability systems and any other relevant hygiene/food-safety measures are “at least equivalent” to the EU’s (see Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and Delegated Regulations) for products of animal origin.

(EUR-Lex) South Africa needs to ensure its hive-to-jar system, processing/packaging, labelling, batch traceability all meet EU standards.

Any gaps will delay listing.

3. Formal listing of the country in the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/405 Once the Commission is satisfied, the country appears in the Annex (the official “third-country list”) for the given commodity (honey). Only then can exports begin under the framework. (AGRINFO)

South Africa is not yet listed for honey in that Annex — hence exporters cannot rely on the formal authorisation.

4. Listing individual exporting establishments From 29 Nov 2024 only those production/processing units (establishments) that have been audited/approved and listed via TRACES-NT can export. Non-listed establishments cannot.

South Africa must compile a list of honey production/processing establishments, ensure they pass audits and upload them to TRACES-NT for approval.

5. Export health certification and conformity per consignment Each consignment must be accompanied by the model certificate (e.g., the “HON” certificate for honey) stating compliance with hygiene, traceability, residue rules. The honey must meet the EU’s Honey Directive (2001/110/EC) and national standards.

South African exporters must implement correct export-health certifications, ensure documentation, packaging, labelling meet EU (and UK) requirements. Local authority must be authorised to issue the correct certificate.

6. Annual updating / audits / surveillance Once listed, the country must submit annually an updated residue control plan (by 31 March) and accept audits by the EU. Non-compliance may lead to delisting.

South Africa must maintain compliance, keep monitoring results, respond to any audit findings and keep the systems in place.

7. UK-specific approval/registration For the UK, exporters/products must satisfy UK import rules (post-Brexit) for products of animal origin, including export health certificates, potentially registered establishments, and compliance with UK food-safety/traceability laws. (GOV.UK)

South African exporters will need to mirror the UK criteria (which are now distinct from, but aligned to, the EU’s) and obtain UK-recognition for their establishments/honey-exports if targeting the UK market.

Keep you posted on our next bee course training in Midrand!

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Subject: Did You Know South Africa is Excluded?

Why is South Africa Currently Excluded From Exporting Honey to the European Union & UK?

And South Africa is ONE OF 52 African countries excluded at present after changes were recently made as explained below.

What Changed That South Africa, Namibia and many other African Nations are off the "Approved List" for exporting to EU & UK?

Key reasons...

2. New tightened rules on honey-establishments and traceability

3. Heightened EU concerns over honey fraud, adulteration and residues

UK regime and post-Brexit alignment

So, What Now?

What Is Required For Approval By South Africa

South Africa’s agriculture/food-safety authority (e.g., Dept of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development) must submit such a plan targeted specifically at honey/apiculture products.

Evidence suggests this has not yet been accepted for honey.

(EUR-Lex) South Africa needs to ensure its hive-to-jar system, processing/packaging, labelling, batch traceability all meet EU standards.

Any gaps will delay listing.

3. Formal listing of the country in the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/405 Once the Commission is satisfied, the country appears in the Annex (the official “third-country list”) for the given commodity (honey). Only then can exports begin under the framework. (AGRINFO)

South Africa is not yet listed for honey in that Annex — hence exporters cannot rely on the formal authorisation.

4. Listing individual exporting establishments From 29 Nov 2024 only those production/processing units (establishments) that have been audited/approved and listed via TRACES-NT can export. Non-listed establishments cannot.

South Africa must compile a list of honey production/processing establishments, ensure they pass audits and upload them to TRACES-NT for approval.

South African exporters must implement correct export-health certifications, ensure documentation, packaging, labelling meet EU (and UK) requirements. Local authority must be authorised to issue the correct certificate.

6. Annual updating / audits / surveillance Once listed, the country must submit annually an updated residue control plan (by 31 March) and accept audits by the EU. Non-compliance may lead to delisting.

South Africa must maintain compliance, keep monitoring results, respond to any audit findings and keep the systems in place.

7. UK-specific approval/registration For the UK, exporters/products must satisfy UK import rules (post-Brexit) for products of animal origin, including export health certificates, potentially registered establishments, and compliance with UK food-safety/traceability laws. (GOV.UK)

South African exporters will need to mirror the UK criteria (which are now distinct from, but aligned to, the EU’s) and obtain UK-recognition for their establishments/honey-exports if targeting the UK market.

South Africa’s agriculture/food-safety authority (e.g., Dept of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development) must submit such a plan targeted specifically at honey/apiculture products.