A honey label must comply with regulations and, at the same time, clearly identify the product and its responsible operator. This guide summarises the key points to review before printing or updating the design.
From 14 June 2026, Royal Decree 68/2025 is in force. It amends the honey quality standard and adapts Spanish honey labelling to Directive (EU) 2024/1438. The general food-information rules in Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 also apply.
Information to review on a honey label
Checklist before sending to print
✅ Food name: ‘honey’ or the specific designation according to the quality standard.
✅ Net quantity, expressed using the appropriate unit.
✅ date of minimum durability and batch.
✅ Name or business name and address of the responsible operator.
✅ Country or countries of origin in the format valid from June 2026.
✅ Storage or usage conditions, where necessary for proper use.
Where floral or botanical origin, regional origin or quality criteria are stated, the conditions laid down in the quality standard must be met, and the claims must be verifiable. Voluntary statements must not mislead consumers.
How origin must be indicated from 2026
| Case | How it must be indicated on the label |
|---|---|
| Honey from a single country | The country where it was collected must be stated. |
| Mixture of honeys from several countries | All countries of origin must appear in the main visual field, listed in descending order of weight proportion and accompanied by the corresponding percentage. |
| Tolerance | A tolerance of 5 % is permitted for each component of the mixture, calculated from the operator’s traceability documentation. |
| Containers under 30 grams | Country names may be replaced by two-letter codes from the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard. |
⚠️ Spain has not adopted the European option allowing the percentage to be shown only for the four main origins when these exceed 50 % of the mixture. In the Spanish market, the percentages of all included countries must be declared.
Transitional period for older labels
🗓️ Honey marketed or labelled before 14 June 2026 under the previous wording may continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted, provided this is within the maximum eighteen-month period laid down in Royal Decree 68/2025.
Ingredients, nutritional information and allergens
Pure honey consisting of a single ingredient may be exempt from ingredient list requirements if the name allows identification without risk of confusion. The possibility of exemption from nutritional declaration must be verified for the specific product. Pure honey must not be treated the same as a product containing other ingredients.
Honey is not listed itself among the substances subject to mandatory declaration in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011. If other ingredients are included, both the ingredient list and applicable allergens must be reviewed.
Local sales and health registration
Health registration, direct sales, or local sales requirements depend on the activity, the establishment, and the regulations of the autonomous community. It should not be assumed that holding a REGA number is sufficient in all cases.
⚠️ Before printing labels, it is advisable to check the applicable autonomous regulation and confirm the operator’s status with the competent authority. This guide provides general guidance and does not replace that verification.
Other recommendations
Food information must not attribute to honey properties of preventing, treating, or curing human diseases. Voluntary claims must be clear, verifiable, and not misleading.
🍯 Have you clarified all the information for your label?
Once the mandatory information and format are defined, you can consult our honey labels and select the appropriate size for your jars. Always verify the final design before sending it to print.
ISNI 0000 0005 1801 1100 | Joshua Ivars is the manager of LA TIENDA DEL APICULTOR and the author of this blog, where he shares technical and practical guidance for beekeepers. Drawing on extensive experience in the beekeeping sector, he offers advice and solutions based on beekeepers’ real needs, sharing his knowledge of equipment and essential beekeeping practices.
