Honey Labeling: What Must Be on Every Label

Correct honey labeling is mandatory for every beekeeper who sells honey - whether at the weekly market, at the farm shop, or at the door. The regulations are clearly defined, but unfortunately not always easy to navigate. This article explains which mandatory information must appear on every honey label and which mistakes you should avoid.

Note: The regulations, legal references, and specific requirements described in this article are based on German and EU food law. If you sell honey in another country, check your local food labeling regulations.

Why Is Honey Labeling So Important?

Honey is a food product, and as such it is subject to the EU Food Information Regulation (FIR, EU 1169/2011) and the German Honey Ordinance. Violations can result in fines up to 10,000 EUR (up to 50,000 EUR for negligence under LFGB) and in the worst case a sales ban.

But correct labels do not just protect you from trouble with authorities. They build customer trust and show professionalism. A jar with a complete, clean label sells better than one with a handwritten note.

Mandatory Information on the Honey Label

The following table shows all information that must appear on every honey label. There are no exceptions - not even for hobby beekeepers with small quantities.

Mandatory Information	Example	Legal Basis
Product designation	"Blossom honey" or "Forest honey"	HonigV (Honey Ordinance) Annex 1
Net quantity	"500 g" or "250 g"	FertigPackV / FIR Art. 9
Best before date	"best before end 02/2028"	FIR Art. 9 Para. 1 lit. f
Name and address of beekeeper	"Max Mustermann, Musterstr. 1, 12345 Musterstadt"	FIR Art. 9 Para. 1 lit. h
Country of origin	"Origin: Germany" or "German honey"	HonigV Section 3 Para. 4
Storage instructions	"Store in a dry place, away from heat"	FIR Art. 25 (strongly recommended)
Lot identification	"L 2026-07-A" or exact BBD as replacement	Lot Identification Ordinance (LKV)

Nutrition Declaration: Double Exemption for Honey

Good news: Honey, as an unprocessed product with only one ingredient, is generally exempt from the nutrition declaration (FIR Annex V No. 1). Additionally, the exemption under Annex V No. 19 applies to hobby beekeepers: individuals who produce food and sell it only locally in small quantities directly to the end consumer are also exempt.

In practice, this means: For most beekeepers selling at the weekly market, from the farm, or at the door, the nutrition declaration is voluntary. Those who still wish to include it signal transparency.

Choosing the Right Product Designation

The designation on the label is not freely chosen. The Honey Ordinance specifies exactly which designations are permitted.

Permitted designations under the Honey Ordinance:

Designation	Requirement
Blossom honey	Entirely or predominantly from flower nectar
Honeydew honey (forest honey)	Predominantly from honeydew (e.g., spruce honey)
Comb honey / Section honey	Left in the combs
Pressed honey	Obtained by pressing the combs
Varietal honey (e.g., rapeseed honey)	At least 60% from one nectar source, confirmed by pollen analysis, sensory evaluation, and physicochemical characteristics

Important: Fantasy names like "Summer Gold" or "Blossom Dream" are not permitted as product designations. You may use them as additions, but the correct designation such as "Blossom honey" must also appear on the label.

Prohibited advertising claims: Designations such as "cold extracted", "genuine" or "natural" are not permitted, as they advertise with self-evident facts - honey is always cold extracted according to the Honey Ordinance and by definition must not contain any foreign substances. Terms like "Premium" or "Select" are permitted.

The Best Before Date (BBD)

Honey practically never spoils under normal storage conditions, yet the FIR requires a BBD. Common practice:

• Recommendation: 2 years from the filling date
• Format: "best before end MM/YYYY" or with exact date "best before DD.MM.YYYY"
• Note: The BBD is a quality statement, not an expiration date

The BBD must be on the label itself or (for small jars) on the lid. It may not appear only on the outer packaging.

Country of Origin and Origin Information

Since the amendment of the Honey Ordinance, the country of origin must be clearly indicated. For German honey, "German honey" or "Origin: Germany" is sufficient.

Important - New EU Honey Directive 2024/1438: From June 14, 2026, stricter rules apply for blended honey. All origin countries must be listed in descending order with percentage shares (5% tolerance) on the label. The previous collective statement "Blend of honeys from EU and non-EU countries" will no longer be permitted. Honey labeled before June 14, 2026 may be used up. For beekeepers who sell exclusively their own German honey, practically nothing changes - the statement "German honey" or "Origin: Germany" remains sufficient.

Regional origin is a strong selling point. "Blossom honey from the Bergisches Land" sells better than an anonymous origin statement. The regional information supplements the country of origin but does not replace it.

Lot Identification

Lot identification serves traceability. If a problem occurs with a batch, it must be possible to identify which jars are affected.

Options for lot identification:

• A custom lot code, for example "L 2026-07-A" (year, month, batch A)
• The BBD can serve as a replacement if given with an exact date (LKV Section 2 No. 5)
• The batch number from your beekeeping software

With Hivekraft, you manage batches automatically. Each bottling receives a unique number that you can print directly on your label.

Optional Information Worth Including

Beyond the mandatory information, there are optional details that enhance your label and strengthen customer trust.

Recommended additional information:

• Harvest year: "Harvest 2026" shows freshness
• Location: "From our apiary in Cologne-Nippes"
• Moisture content: Documents quality (under 18 percent is premium)
• QR code: Links to a honey page with all details
• DIB seal of approval: For members of the German Beekeepers' Association

DIB Seal of Approval: Special Case for Association Members

Members of the German Beekeepers' Association (DIB) can use the well-known green seal of approval. This brings additional requirements:

• Jar type: Only the standardized DIB jar is permitted
• Fill quantity: Exactly 250 g or 500 g
• Quality: Moisture content maximum 18 percent (stricter than the Honey Ordinance's 20 percent)
• HMF value: Maximum 15 mg/kg (Honey Ordinance allows 40 mg/kg)
• Invertase activity: Minimum 64 units/kg (Siegenthaler method)
• Inspections: Random inspections by the association

The DIB seal is a strong quality mark, but it restricts your choice of jar and label design. Many beekeepers deliberately choose their own jars and labels to stand out.

Label Design: Tips for a Professional Look

Beyond mandatory information, design determines sales success. A few basic rules:

• Less is more: Do not overload the label. Mandatory information must be clearly legible.
• Consistent design: Use the same basic layout for all varieties. Only the color or variety name changes.
• High-quality material: Self-adhesive label paper from the printer looks less professional than printed labels.
• Use the back: On large jars, you can put mandatory information on the back and use the front for your brand design.
• Color choice: Warm gold tones and natural colors suit the product. Bright neon colors irritate honey buyers.

Common Honey Labeling Mistakes

These mistakes are seen most frequently during inspections:

1. Missing address: Just the name is not enough. Street, house number, postal code, and city are required.
2. Incorrect fill quantity: The net quantity must be exact. Inspectors will weigh jars.
3. Fantasy name without product designation: "Grandma's Bee Gold" alone is not permitted.
4. No country of origin: Often forgotten, but mandatory since the ordinance amendment.
5. BBD missing: Even though honey lasts forever - the BBD must be there.
6. No storage instructions: Whether storage instructions are legally mandatory is debated. In practice, food inspectors increasingly require them. Since honey loses quality above 18 degrees Celsius (HMF rises, enzymes decline), we recommend: always print "Store in a dry place, away from heat."
7. Font too small: Mandatory information must have an x-height of at least 1.2 mm (at least 0.9 mm for packaging under 80 cm2 largest surface area). Additionally, the net quantity must have a minimum font height of 4 mm for jars between 200 g and 1000 g.

Checklist: Check Your Honey Label

Before you sell your jars, go through this checklist:

Check Point	Present?
Product designation (e.g., Blossom honey)	Yes / No
Net quantity in grams	Yes / No
Best before date	Yes / No
Name and full address	Yes / No
Country of origin	Yes / No
Lot identification or filling date	Yes / No
Nutrition declaration (if not exempt)	Yes / No
Storage instructions (e.g., dry, away from heat)	Yes / No
Font size at least 1.2 mm x-height	Yes / No
Designation and fill quantity in same field of vision	Yes / No

Creating Labels with Hivekraft

With the label generator in Hivekraft, you create labels that automatically contain all mandatory information. You choose your design, batch data is imported from your harvest and bottling documentation, and the QR code is generated automatically.

Making it even easier: Record your harvest cleanly, create a bottling, and Hivekraft takes care of the rest.

Start for free now and design your honey labels with legal compliance - or discover all features of Hivekraft.

Read also: Marketing Honey - From Jar to Customer Modern marketing: QR Code on the Honey Jar - Modern Honey Marketing Variety: Germany's Honey Varieties - A Taste Journey Through the Regions