Magic Hill Honey

China next hopefully!

NEWS: EU suspends honey imports from Brazil

The imported honey story took another interesting turn this week as the EU suspended imports of honey from Brazil.

From 3 September, Brazil is no longer authorised to export honey — along with a number of other animal products — to the EU because it has not provided sufficient guarantees that it complies with new EU requirements on the use of antimicrobials.

This matters because Brazil is a significant honey exporter. In 2024, the EU imported around 2,627 tonnes of Brazilian honey, which enters the European market alongside honey imported from many other countries.

The timing of this decision is particularly interesting for consumers.

This is because of the new EU honey labelling regulations, which came into effect in June. According to the new legislation, the countries of origin of blended honey must now be shown on the jar, together with their percentage contribution. So a blend containing honey from countries such as China, Brazil, Mexico or Argentina is now much easier for consumers to identify.

The new import ban does not mean that Brazilian honey already sitting on supermarket shelves suddenly disappears. But from 3 September, consignments of Brazilian honey cannot enter the EU while Brazil remains unauthorised.

In a week when there has been so much discussion about where supermarket honey actually comes from, this is another reminder of why transparency matters so much in the food chain — whether it is about where our honey comes from or what is actually in it. As consumers, we have a right to know before we buy it.

As consumers, we can decide where we spend our money. If you want to know where your honey comes from, read the country-of-origin information on the jar. You can choose to support the big importers where there is not one drop of Irish honey in the jar. Or you can choose to support Irish bees and Irish beekeepers and buy guaranteed Irish honey from a local beekeeper.

Look at the colour of that! 😋

Bottled just before the eclipse! Ruby Mead 2026. Medieval style mead with autumn honey and blackcurrants.
These will now go into storage for further maturing and will be ready to enjoy in the Christmas season! 🥃💗

The moment you all have been waiting for… Magic Hill new season runny honey is back in stock! Only 40 jars for now so get them while they are available! I will be dropping stock into Mac’s Coffee too.

Lovely red pollen coming in at the moment… In this photo you can see all stages of a brood frame. Undrawn foundation to the left and then going across cells with eggs, larvae and capped brood. Ladies busy at work. Only the queen is still in hiding! Third time looking for her and no luck. Master of disguise!

I will be at this event with the last jars of our 2025 harvest and hopefully some new season spring honey …if the weather behaves that is... AND… I will have my new propolis tincture for sale 💕

😃 We are Delighted to be hosting the Summer Solstice Fair again this year in conjunction with Louth Gardeners & Growers Collective in the Dolmen Centre, Omeath on Saturday 20th June.

There will be delicious local food, home baking, jams, Magic Hill Honey, Muchgrange Farm gelato, McKevitt’s Farmhouse, producers from Ravensdale Country Market, Anne's Luxury Irish Hand Knits and Crochet, wellness products from Hawthorn Wellness, locally grown plants from Scoil Naomh Lorcan Omeath and lots more 🌻🪻🌹🌱🎋

🤩 Our very special guest speaker is Randal Plunkett, Lord Dunsany who will talk about the fascinating rewilding project he has created at Dunsany Nature Reserve in County Meath 🐝🦋🐞🦇🐺🐦🦉

Last Lap Cafe will be on hand with teas/coffes, crepes and other goodies ☕️🍰🧁🥤🍩
Admission is free and everyone is welcome for a fun filled Mid Summers day!😎

Virgin queens close up - I love my new camera - it’s great for close ups! Look at the details of the body hair, on these little ladies wow!💗