Finally: jam can now be called jam again

In addition to the naming rules, the amendment also adjusts the minimum fruit content of jams – from 350 to 450 grams per kilogram, and for “extra” products to 500 grams. This is intended to reduce the sugar content and promote a healthier composition.

“Jam dispute”

The background to the name restriction for jam was that Great Britain had implemented the name for their orange jam in 1979. Despite protests, Austria also had to implement the corresponding regulation after joining the EU in 1995.

In 2004, an exception to the so-called “jam dispute” stipulated that products that were not sold across EU borders could again be called jam. However, this only applied to smaller manufacturers for marketing on local markets; the regulation did not apply to wholesalers and supermarkets. Despite everything, the traditional Austrian term never disappeared from common usage and will soon be found on all packaging again.

More transparency with honey

The labeling regulations for honey are changing. From now on, all countries of origin and their percentages must be clearly stated on the label for honey mixtures. Until now, the only requirement for honey mixtures was to state whether the product came from the EU or not. The “Bee Austria” interest group recently praised the amendment as a success in the fight against imported cheap honey and as a strengthening for local beekeepers.

“The origin of the honey comes to the table just in time for Sunday breakfast,” said Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP), according to a broadcast on Sunday. “Anyone who wants to buy quality Austrian honey no longer has to puzzle through anonymous imported goods and can now access them in a targeted manner.”

According to the ministry, there is a tolerance range of five percentage points per percentage of origin for the percentages of honey mixtures. The basis for this is the operational documentation on traceability, according to the statement. Simplified requirements therefore apply to small packs of up to 30 grams. In these cases, the countries of origin may be specified using two-letter country codes.