Marmalade May Be Called Marmalade Again – Stricter Rules for Honey and Spreads

As early as 2004, the so-called "Marmalade Dispute" brought an exemption: products not sold across EU borders were allowed to be called Marmalade again. However, this applied only to smaller producers for sale on local markets, not to wholesale or supermarkets. In preparation for Brexit, Jakob von Weizsäcker suggested in 2017 that marmalade – regardless of which fruit it was made from – should once again be allowed to be called that. The EU subsequently amended the so-called Breakfast Directive.

What previously had to be called Konfitüre may now be called Marmalade again. To avoid confusion with marmalade made from berries or other fruits, marmalade made from citrus fruits must now – in accordance with EU law – be called citrus marmalade, although the word "citrus" may be replaced by the name of the fruit used.

Stricter Rules for Honey

Alongside the labelling rules, the amendment also adjusts the minimum fruit content of marmalades – from the previous 350 to 450 grams per kilogram, and to 500 grams for "extra" products. "Instead of the previous 350 grams, at least 450 grams of fruit per kilogram must be contained in future," the ministry said. The aim of this measure is to reduce the sugar content and make the spreads healthier overall.

The amendment also brings significantly stricter requirements for honey. In future, every honey jar must list all countries of origin with their exact percentage share on the label. Until now, vague statements such as "blend of honey from EU and non-EU countries" were also permitted. "An end to cryptic statements like 'blend from EU and non-EU countries'," the ministry declared. For honey blends, until now only an indication of whether the product originated in the EU or not was mandatory.

Specifically, the countries of origin must be listed in descending order according to their share, along with their weight percentage. According to the ministry, a tolerance range of five percentage points per origin share applies to the percentages. Simplified requirements apply to small packs of up to 30 grams: in these cases, the countries of origin may be indicated using two-letter country codes. Honey bottled before today's cut-off date under the old rules may still be sold.

Reactions from Politics and Industry

Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) expressed his delight at the new rules. "Right on time for Sunday breakfast, the origin of the honey is on the table," he said, according to a statement released on Sunday. He added: "Anyone who wants to buy Austrian quality honey no longer has to puzzle through anonymous import goods and can now make a targeted choice." The basis for the percentage information is the company's traceability documentation, as the ministry announced.

The interest group "Biene Österreich" is already celebrating this new transparency as a major success. It sees it as an important weapon in the fight against cheap imported honey and a genuine boost for domestic beekeeping. Consumers, too, should in future be able to see at a glance where their honey comes from and how high the fruit content of their marmalade is.

The national rules came into force on Sunday, June 14, 2026. This brings an end to a decades-old linguistic peculiarity in EU food law – and breakfast in Austria becomes a little more "local" once again.