MBABANE – Between 30 and 40 per cent of imported honey sold in Eswatini is adulterated or mislabelled, according to findings presented at a stakeholder validation meeting on the country’s honey industry held in Mbabane on Thursday.
The findings were disclosed by Debbie Cutting during a presentation on Honey and Bee Products under the PROGREEN Eswatini Forest-Based Value Chain Development Industry Strategic Plan at the Value Chain and Fire Management Plan Components Validation Meeting held at the Hilton Hotel.
The assessment paints a concerning picture of a market increasingly dominated by imported products of questionable quality, while local producers struggle to meet growing demand and gain access to formal retail outlets.
According to the presentation, demand for honey in Eswatini currently exceeds the supply of reliable local products, creating opportunities for imported products to fill the gap. However, many of these products are reportedly adulterated or incorrectly labelled.
The report identified the domestic formal retail market as the most immediate opportunity for local producers, noting that supermarkets and specialty stores remain heavily stocked with imported honey originating mainly from South Africa, India and China.
“Cheap honey distorts market prices and erodes consumer trust,” the presentation noted.
The study found that imported honey products often undercut genuine local honey, making it difficult for domestic producers to compete. At the same time, consumers are frequently unable to distinguish between authentic honey and adulterated products.
According to the assessment, limited public awareness about honey quality contributes to the problem. Many consumers are unfamiliar with natural characteristics of genuine honey, such as crystallisation, and may mistakenly view these as signs of poor quality.
As a result, lower-quality imported products are often able to compete alongside authentic honey without consumers recognising the difference.
The report further highlighted several challenges facing local honey producers. These include low production volumes, inadequate packaging, limited processing infrastructure and difficulties meeting traceability requirements demanded by formal retailers.
The presentation noted that these constraints prevent many producers from fully capitalising on opportunities within the domestic market, despite increasing demand for honey and bee-related products.
However, the assessment also identified significant growth prospects for the sector.
Regionally, South Africa was identified as the most practical export destination in the short term, with existing trade frameworks such as the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offering opportunities for market expansion.
The report estimated that South Africa imported honey worth approximately US$8.8 million in 2025, with China, Zambia and India among its major suppliers.
Beyond the region, premium markets in the European Union and the United States were identified as potential destinations for high-quality Eswatini honey and value-added bee products, including cosmetics, medicinal products and propolis.
Nevertheless, accessing these markets would require local producers to comply with stringent international standards, including product certification, laboratory testing, traceability systems, residue monitoring and detailed labelling requirements.
The findings suggest that improving production capacity, strengthening quality assurance systems and increasing consumer awareness could help Eswatini reduce its reliance on imported honey while creating opportunities for local producers to access lucrative regional and international markets.
Stakeholders attending the validation meeting were urged to support initiatives aimed at developing a more competitive and sustainable honey industry capable of meeting both domestic and export demand.
Meanwhile Bobbie Pennington outlined key reforms aimed at improving governance, product quality and market competitiveness.
Pennington said the industry requires formal honey standards, stronger import controls and enhanced inspection systems to address the growing presence of non-compliant honey products on the local market.
According to the presentation, weak regulation and fragmented oversight have contributed to the problem. The repeal of the Importation of Bees Act left the sector without a clear legal framework, with responsibilities spread across multiple government institutions.
Pennington noted that adulterated and mislabelled honey undermines consumer confidence and places local producers at a disadvantage by allowing lower-quality products to compete unfairly in the market.
To address the issue, the roadmap proposes the establishment of local honey standards and labelling requirements, increased inspections, stronger compliance enforcement and market surveillance targeting retailers and producers found selling non-compliant products.
Other proposed interventions include the creation of a national hive registration system to improve traceability, the strengthening of pesticide regulations affecting bees and increased investment in research and development, forage mapping, hive technology and genetics.
Stakeholders identified in the roadmap include the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Veterinary and Livestock Services, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and the Eswatini National Apiculture Platform.
Pennington said stronger governance and coordination would be critical to unlocking investment, improving certification and processing, and enabling Eswatini’s honey industry to realise its full economic potential.
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