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4. Conclusion
Honeys are complex and diverse natural products. But whatever their origins, the presence of enzymes secreted by the bee's hypopharyngeal glands makes them fragile and causes them to evolve physico-chemically over time. Such variations have led many authors to describe honey as a "living product".
To be of the highest quality, honey must comply with EEC legislation and standards, be stored in a cool place at less than 20°C, and be consumed quickly, well before the use-by date indicated on the packaging. Its aromatic and gustatory qualities are at their best in the year following harvest.
Despite all the efforts made by beekeepers to produce quality honey, and by forensic scientists to protect consumers, there are still too many counterfeit products. This is why laboratories specializing in fraud detection must regularly develop new research...
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Conclusion
Bibliography
References
- (1) - RAMEAU (J.C.), MANSION (D.), DUMÉ (G.) - Flore forestière française. Guide écologique illustré - . Institut pour le développement forestier, ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche, 3 vol., t. 1, Plaines et collines, 1786 p. (1989) ; t. 2, Montagnes, 2421 p. (1994) ; t. 3, Zones méditerranéennes (en préparation)....
Internet addresses
Apimondia [http://www.apimondia.org]
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations): [http://www.fao.org]
Organizations
French trade associations
Associations pour le développement de l'apiculture provençale(ADAPI) : http://www.cnda.asso.fr/ et Syndicat de promotion des miels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Chambre syndicale nationale du miel : http://perso.club-internet.fr/
...Specialized laboratories
French laboratories specializing in honey analysis
Laboratories accredited for physico-chemical analyses, palynological studies can be carried out by the first two centers listed below as well as by all specialized or non-specialized research laboratories where this discipline is practiced (e.g. botany, ecology, paleobotany, geology, geography laboratories...): AFSSA:
Legislation
It aims to regulate the sale of a quality product. Several decrees are regularly published in the Journal Officiel. In addition, the EEC and AFNOR standards recommend stricter quality regulations than those currently in force.
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Current regulations based on the directives of the Council of the European Communities of July 22, 1974 on the harmonization of the laws of the Member...
Standardization
The quality of honeys marketed in France should comply with French AFNOR standards (NF V 35-001: Miels. Spécifications) dated September 1990, (2nd edition, leaflet 1991), drawn up in accordance with the above-mentioned Decree 77-717 of 22/07/1976 and controlled by official color analysis methods using the Pfund color grader or the Lovibond visual comparator. However, among the required standards, it is recommended that...
Honey quality and labels
Depending on their origin, honeys fall into three categories:
honeys entitled to a certificate ;
monofloral (= unifloral) honeys ;
all-flower honeys (multi- or polyfloral).
At the request of beekeepers (a voluntary act), various specifications...
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