Bottling Honey
Arbeiten am Bienenstand
Bottling is done into hygienically clean jars, in clean work clothes, and over a calibrated scale.
Bottling is done into hygienically clean jars, in clean work clothes, and over a calibrated scale. Skim once more before bottling. The honey must never go above 40 degrees during this; creamed honeys are warmed through to about 35 degrees and kept warm in the filling can. Store cool after bottling.
The label must, under German and EU rules, carry the beekeeper's name and postal address, a website or email address is not enough, plus the sales description, country of origin, best-before date, storage instructions, lot number, and fill quantity. Honey does not need a nutrition declaration. With a day-specific best-before date, the lot number can be omitted. For blends from several countries, EU law requires all countries of origin listed in descending order by weight share; anyone bottling only their own honey is not affected by this.
The German Beekeepers' Association's jar may only be sold as a complete set, meaning embossed glass, embossed lid, lid liner, and the numbered guarantee seal, which is only available through the association's office. The requirements are association membership, registered colonies, and a recognized honey training course. The printed fill quantity is binding in this case; the usual negative tolerances of the Prepackaging Regulation (Fertigpackungsverordnung) do not apply here.