Honey is eligible to be imported into the US market, says Nguyen Thi Hang, vice-chairwoman of Viet Nam Bee Raising Association. Hang's clarification follows news late last year that US importers rejected 600 tonnes of honey from Viet Nam.
HA NOI – Honey is eligible to be imported into the US market, says Nguyen Thi Hang, vice-chairwoman of Viet Nam Bee Raising Association.
Hang's clarification follows news late last year that US importers rejected 600 tonnes of honey from Viet Nam.
Hang said the US remained the country's major importer of honey. In 2011, Viet Nam exported 27,000 tonnes to the US, she said.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the honey was rejected because it exceeded the permitted level of the anti-fungus additive carbenzamin. The rejection affected 35,000 beekeepers throughout the country.
However, the ministry said the mistake was not directly that of beekeepers. The herbicide was used in rubber, cashew and coffee farms in the region where bees pollinated.
The ministry said it was willing to invite authorised US representatives to Viet Nam to clarify the origin of products as well as examine quality control processes for exported honey. – VNS