Moldovan beekeepers are invited to participate in a national competition - Moldova Honey Awards 2025. Contacted by IPN, Ion Maxim, executive director of the National Association of Beekeepers, said that those who really have production capacity and are able to produce and market quality, verified honey are eligible to apply.

The executive director of the National Beekeepers Association said that the competition is aimed at promoting honey from the Republic of Moldova on the local market. The intention is explained by the fact that, in previous years, practically 85% of the honey that was produced was exported and consumption on the local market was minimal.

According to Ion Maxim, the winning beekeepers will only benefit later on from their success, which guarantees the quality of the product. The consumer will know that beekeeper X has won the competition and is a producer of good honey, the association's executive director added.

Legally registered domestic honey-producing companies can apply for the contest if they have at least one hundred bee families and produce at least 500 kilograms per type of honey, such as polyfloral or other. Labeling and the jar must also meet market requirements.

In addition to the honey samples, beekeepers will have to submit a copy of the sanitary-veterinary certificate, a copy of the beekeeper's passport, the company's registration extract, a copy of the chemical analysis certificate.

Ion Maxim said that the competition jury includes Italian and local specialists. The announcement of the results and the awarding of the winners will take place in February at the National Beekeeping Forum.

Beekeepers will register online and send their honey samples to the office of the National Association of Beekeepers of the Republic of Moldova at 50 Capriana Street by the end of January. Participation costs 500 lei per sample.