US Major Importer of Vietnam Honey

US Major Importer of Vietnam Honey

“Honey is eligible to be imported into the US market.” This statement came from Nguyen Thi Hang, Vice-Chairwoman of Vietnam Bee Raising Association, clarifying news that US importers rejected 600 tonnes of honey from Vietnam late last year.
 
According to Hang, US is in fact Vietnam’s major importer of honey. In 2011 alone, US imported 27,000 tonnes of honey from Vietnam.
 
Based on research and report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the said delivery of honey was rejected because it exceeded the permitted level of the anti-fungus additive carbenzamin. This affected the livelihood of 35,000 beekeepers all over the country.
 
But to clear the issue and the credibility of the workers, the ministry emphasized that the “mistake” was not directly that of the beekeepers. The mentioned herbicide was used in rubber, cashew and coffee farms in the region where bees pollinated. Thus, it became in contact with the honey.
 
To further clear the issue and assure US of the good quality of Vietnam’s honey, the ministry is willing to invite authorized US representatives into the country to check the origin and quality control processes of the exported honey.