CIB's action against adulterated honey traders praised

The Central Honey Business Association of Nepal has welcomed the recent action taken by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) alleging that the business of mixing inedible items was done for the purpose of making illegal profit by losing the true integrity and identity of Nepali honey.

The CIB has raided a factory selling non-food items in the name of honey business in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-27, Jyatha. The association has also demanded in a press release that the criminals who affect health of consumers in the name of business should be punished.

Such misconduct and propaganda will affect the government's goal of institutionalizing the beekeeping business, which is directly linked to agriculture, horticulture and forestry production and productivity by directly contributing to economic gain, job creation, improvement of people's living standards and livelihood as well as agro-biodiversity and environmental protection. The association has also urged to be serious on the matter.

The union has drawn attention to the confusion among bees and honey traders, farmers involved in the business and consumers as some media outlets have given negative information on the need to provide accurate information about the quality and benefits of honey. The statement said that it was unfortunate that some media outlets were spreading misleading news that honey can even cause cancer.

The association has also handed over a memorandum to Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahendra Ray Yadav, Secretary to the Ministry and Department of Agriculture, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry to encourage entrepreneurs to produce quality honey and take strict action against those involved in wrong activities.

The memorandum seeks to prevent the collapse of beekeeping business, which is a major investment of farmers, to stop the sale and distribution of unlabeled honey in the market, to encourage entrepreneurs to produce quality honey and update the label, and to create an environment for consumers to consume honey.