THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY

[P,\RI U—SH\ ?(ii)]

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

(Department of Commerce)

ORDER

New Delhi, the 4lh March. 2002

S.O. 276(E).— Whereas, for the development of the export trade of India, certain

proposals for subjecting honey to quality control and inspection prior to export were

published as required by sub-rule (2) of rule 11 of the Export (Quality Control and

Inspection) Rules, 1964 in the Gazette of India, Part II, section 3, sub-section (ii) dated

the 26^th May, 2001 vide S.O. 1097 dated thel lth May, 2001 of the Government of India

in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce;

And whereas, objections and suggestions were invited from all persons likely to

be affected thereby, within the period of forty five-days from the date the said Order is

made available to the public;

And whereas the copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public on

8^lh June 2001.

And whereas the objections and suggestions received from the public on the said

proposal have been considered by the Central Government;

/«

,.^N^^W*^thcrefore>ⁱⁿ «crcise of powers conferred by section 6 of the Export

(Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of 1963), the Central Government after

consulting the Export Inspection Council being of the opinion that it is necessary and

expedient to do so, for the development of the export trade of India, hereby-

(a) notifies that honey shall be subject to quality control and inspection prior to

export;

(b) specifies the type of quality control and inspection in accordance with the Export

of Honey (Quality Control>spection and Monitoring) Rules, 2002, as the type of

quality control, inspection and monitoring which shall be applied to such honey prior

to export.

J r

other related matters which shall be as per the Schedule and Appendix appended to

this Order.

(d)prohibits the export, in the course of international trade of honey unless it

conforms to the standard specifications applicable to it and is accompanied by a

certificate of inspection or certificate that such unit is approved and monitored by

any of agencies established under section 7 of the Export (Quality Control and

Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of 1963) including its sub-offices located at various places

of the region.

2. Nothing in this Order shall apply to export by sea, land or air of samples of honey to

prospective buyers, the value of which shall not exceed permissible limits laid down in

exim policy from time to time and where no such provisions exists, the value shall not

exceed RslOOO/ to prospective buyers.

SCHEDULE

Specifications for honey recognised as per clause (c) of section 6 of the

Export (Quality Control and Inspection), Act 1963 shall be:-

(a) National Standards of the importing countries.

(b) Contractual specifications agreed to between the foreign buyer and the

exporters provided the same is satisfying the health and other requirements of the

importing country.

o r d ^ f n ^ r ? °^{f (a}i °^^(b)^ab°^VCl^{thC minimum} sP^cations notified in the

order as per the Appendix hereunder.

THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY

[PARI II—SEc.3(ii)]

APPENDIX

STANDARDS FOR EXPORTS OF HONEY:

1.1

Definition

(i) Honey is the natural sweet substance produced by the

honey bees from the nectar of blossoms or secretions of

living parts of plants and which the bees collect

transform, combine with specific substances of their own'

deposit, dehydrate naturally and store and leave to mature

and ripen in honey combs. This foodstuff may be fluid

viscous or crystallized;

(ii) Extracted Honey is the honey obtained only by

centrifuging decapped broodless combs;

(iii) Pressed Honey is the honey obtained only by

pressing broodless combs with or without the application

of moderate heat;

(iv) Drained Honey is the honey obtained only by

draining decapped broodless combs;

(v) Blossom Honey or Nectar-Honey is the honey which

comes from nectars of plants;

(vi) Honeydew Honey is the honey, which comes mainly

from excretions of plant sucking insects (Hemiptera) on

the hving parts of the plants or secretions of living parts

of plants.

1.2 Genera) Characteristics

Honey must be extracted from broodless combs and

should be allowed to ripen naturally in the hive in sealed

combs. The flavour and aroma would vary depending on

the plant origin. However, it shall not: -

(a) have any foreign tastes or odours; or

(b) have begun to ferment or effervesce; or

enzymes are destroyed or made inactive; or

(d) have an artificially changed acidity; or

(e) contain substances in such quantity as to endangc

human health.

1.3 Composition and Quality

Apiary/Extracted

a) Reducing Sugar Content (Min) 65%

b) Moisture content (Max)

c) Fructose/Glucose (Min)

20%

0.95

d) Water insoluble solids content

Not more than 0.1%

c) Mineral substance (ash)

f) Sucrose

g) Acidity

1.4 Diastase activity

(SchadeScale)

Not more than 0.5%

5% maximum

Not

than

equivalents acid per

(0.2%)

Squeezed/Pressed/Drained

65%

23%

0.95

Not more than 0.5%

Not more than 0.6%

5% maximum

milli- Not more than 40 milli-

1000 gms. equivalents acid per 1000

gms. (0.4%)

Not less than 8 in general, not

less than 3 for honey with low

less than 3 for honey with

*^ontent*^a"d

low natural enzyme content*

HMF@ 15 mg/ kg.

a n d H M F @ 15

* Low natural enzyme contents may be declared

on the label.

1.5 Hydroxymethyl furfural

content (HMF)

1-6 Colour

1.7 Pood additive

1-8 Veterinary drug, other

Substances, environmental

and other contaminants

Not more than ?n

\, ,

tmorethan20

N o t

m o r e

than

ng/Kg

mg/kg

Nearly colourless to dark brown.

Not permitted.

Veterinary drug and contaminants should not have-

W Antibacterial substances, including

Sulphonomides and quinolones

(ii) Carbamates and pyrethroids

(iii) Organochlorine compounds including PcBs

(iv) Organ phosphorus compounds

(v) Chemical elements

THE GAZETTE OF INDIA [EXTRAORDINARY

|PAKI II—Syr 3(ii)|

1.9 Freedom from foreign matter

Honey sold as such shall not have added to it any food ingredient or other substance. It

shall be free from invert sugar or honey analogue. Honey shall not have any

objectionable flavour, aroma or taint absorbed from foreign matter during its processing

and storage. The honey shall not have begun to ferment or effervescence. Filtration is

permitted to remove objectionable matter provided sufficient pollen grains which

characterise the honey are retained.

[F.N06/3/2000-B&EP]

M.V.P.C.SASTRY. Jt Secy.

THE GAZETTE OF INDIA; EXTRAORDINARY

[PART II—St-r.3(ii)1

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 4th March, 2002

S.O. 277(E).—^ e x e r ci s e of t n e p o w c r s conferred by Clause (d) of sub section 2 of

section 17 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of 1963), the

Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely: -

1. Short title and commencement - (1) These rules may be called the Export of

Honey (Quality Control, Inspection and Monitoring) Rules, 2002.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official

Gazette.

2. Definitions - In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires -

(a) "Act" means the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of

(b) "Agency" means any of the Export Inspection Agencies established by the

Central Government at Mumbai, Kolkata Kochi, Delhi and Chennai under

section 7 of the Act for inspection including its sub-offices located at various

places of the region;

3 of the Act;

(d) "Batch" means a quality of honey, which have been prepared under the same

conditions and in particular treated in single continuous operation;

(e) "Certificate" means certificate issued under sub-section (3) of section 7 of the

Act;

(f) "Collection Centre" means an establishment where honey is collected.

(g) "Country of Dispatch"- means India;

(h) "Country of Destination" means the country to which honey is dispatched

from India;

(i) "Placing on the market" means the stocking or display with a view to sale,

- - ~____offering for sale, delivery or any other manner of disposal with the exception of

retaTrsaterwhic_h must be subject to the checks laid down by national rules for

retail business;

(j) " Competent Authority" means any one of the Export Inspection

Agencies at Mumbai, Kolkata Kochi, Delhi and Chennai established under

section 7 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963;

(k) " Establishment" means any premises where honey is prepared, processed,

packaged or stored.

3. Basis of compliance. - The quality control and inspection of honey shall be

carried out as follows:-

(a) The honey intended for export shall be handled at all stages of production,

storage and transport based on good manufacturing practices (GMP) and

good hygienic practices (GHP) and the product shall conform to the

specification given in the Order by the Central Government under section

6 of the Act. The Competent Authority shall conduct regular monitoring of

the establishments to ensure that good manufacturing practices and good

hygienic practices are adopted by the establishment at all stages of

production, storage and transport of honey. For effective monitoring of the

scheme, the Council shall issue necessary instruction in this regard.

(b) On the basis of inspection and testing carried out in the manner prescribed

by the Council.

4. Procedure of Quality Control and Inspection

4.1 The procedure to be followed for compliance under clause (a) of rule 3

shall be as under: -

(1) It is the primary responsibity of the industry to ensure that honey intended

for export is processed and handled at all stages of production, storage, and

transport under proper hygienic and manufacturing conditions and that the

product conforms to the specifications given in the order by the Central

Government under section 6 of the Act.

7^6/^.^

THE GAZETTEOFINDIA: EXTRAORDINARY

|PARTII—SEC.3(U)J

(2) Any statutory restrictions imposed by any State/ Central Government with

respect to commercial or environmental or conservation measures from time

to time shall be strictly adhered to.

(3) Having satisfied itself that the •UtabUshmcnts meet the requirements with

regard to nature of activities they carry out, the Competent Authority jjhall

accord approval to such establishments.

(4) The Competent Authority may take the assistance of representatives from

Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA),

Department, of Food Processing Industry and Ministry of Agriculture in the

matter of approval of establishments.

(5) The Competent Authority shall take necessary measures if the

requirements cease to be met.

(6) The Council shall draw up a list of approved establishments, each of which

shall have an official number.

(7) The inspection and monitoring of establishment shall be carried out

regularly under the responsibility of the Competent Authority which shall at

all times have free access to all parts of the establishments and records

pertaining to the controls exercised by the establishment for hygienic handling

and processing of honey during all stages of production, storage and transport.

4.2 The procedure of inspection under clause (b) of rule 3 shall be carried

out as under: -

(1) An exporter intending to export a consignment of honey shall give

intimation in writing to the Agency furnishing therein only the technical

specifications alongwith a copy of the export contract blanking out pricing

and other details.

(2) Every intimation under sub rule (1) shall be given not less than two days

before the inspection is to be carried out at the premises situated at the same

station where the office of the Agency is located; and not less than five days

before the inspection is to be carried out at the premises which are not situated

at the same station where the office of the Agency is located.

(3) On receipt of intimation under sub rule (1), the Agency shall carry out the

inspection of honey meant for export by drawing samples for inspection and

testing. The Agency, on satisfying itself that the consignment of honey

conforms to the standard specifications recognised for the purpose on the

basis of inspection and testing carried out as laid down by the Council, shall,

within two days or five days, as the case may be, issue certificate declaring the

consignment of honey as exportworthy:

Provided that where the Agency is not satisfied, it shall refuse to issue a

certificate to the exporter and shall communicate such refusal within two

days if the inspection is carried out at the station where the Agency is

situated or five days, if the premises are not situated in the same station

where the Agency is located, as the case may be, to the exporter along

with the reasons thereof.

(4) Subsequent to certification, the Agency shall have the right to re-assess the

quality bf the consignment at any place or storage, in transit or at the posts

before its actual shipment.

(5) In the event of the consignment being found not conforming to the

standard specifications at any of these stages, the certificate of inspection

originally issued shall be withdrawn.

(5) Packing and Marking. An exporter intending to pack honey for export after

preparing the consignment as per the rules shall pack in hygienically clean wide

mouth, glass containers or in acids resistant lacquered tin containers. The screw

caps for the glass container shall be non-corrosive and non-reactive material to

honey and shall be provided with washers to avoid spilling.

Each container shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following

information, namely:-

1. Name and address of processor or manufacturer.

2. Name and address of the exporter

3. Name of the material and grade designation.

4. Batch or Lot number.

5. Year, month and date of processing or manufacturing.

6. Gross mass and net mass.

7. Product of India.

8. Shipping mark.

(6) Inspection Fee: -

In the case of approval and monitoring system, inspection fee @ 0.2%of the

freight on board (FOB) value and in the case of consignment wise inspection

@ 0.4%of freight on board value subject to a minimum of Rupees 500/- per

consignment, shall be paid by the exporter to the Agency.

.TO

THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY

| PAKT IT—She. 3(ii)l

(7). Appeal: - (a) Any exporter aggrieved by the refusal of the Agency to issue

the certificate of inspection may within 10 days of the receipt of the

communication of such refusal may prefer an appeal which shall be referred

by the Agency to a panel of experts consisting of not less than three, but not

more than seven persons appointed for the purposes by the Central

Government.

(b) At least two-thirds of the total membership of the panel shall consist of

non-officials.

(i) two, in case the panel consists of three members.

(ii) three in case the panel consists of four or more members .

(d) The decision of the panel on such appeal shall be final.

[ENO.6/.V2000-ET&EP]

M.V.P.C. SASTRY. Jt. Secy.

Printed by the Manager, Govt of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapun, New Delhi-110064

and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054