Visitors tasting unique honey varieties at the Third Souq Waqif Honey Exhibition 2020. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Tens of tonnes of honey has been sold at the ongoing third Souq Waqif Honey Exhibition 2020 which will conclude today after attracting a large number of visitors since its launch on January 30, said General Supervisor of Souq Waqif Honey Exhibition, Khalid Saif Al Suwaidi.
The 10-day event is being organised by the Private Engineering Office (PEO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and with the participation of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Over 150 companies from 37 countries showcased more than 50 varieties of honey at the exhibition.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Al Suwaidi revealed that during the exhibition the organisers had removed three companies from the participation, two of which were banned as the honey being marketed by them had 20 percent more moisture while the third company was banned because of the use of types of plastic bottles that did not meet specifications.
“Increasing the moisture in honey increases its fermentation and thus reduces its expiry date. Such honey can be used only within three months which is against laws in Qatar as well as the rest of the world,” he explained.
Al Suwaidi noted that the companies would be prevented from participating in the exhibition during the coming years, and their files have been transferred to the concerned authorities such as the Ministry of Public Health to take the appropriate legal action.
About the exhibition and its support to local honey farms, he said that the exhibition aims at supporting Qatari products by introducing local honey producing companies to the public and providing the opportunity for traders, entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises to present their products of honey and related products.
“On Saturday (today), we are organising a competition which will be participated by more than 20 local companies. The competition includes the quality of honey, its smell and colour. The prizes will be QR10,000 for the first place, QR7500 and QR5,000 for second and third positions respectively,” he said.
The exhibition includes more than 50 types of honey, of which 10 are being displayed for the first time in the exhibition. The local companies are participating in the event because their honey is of superior quality.
For the first time, countries like Sweden, Denmark, and the US are participating in this exhibition.
The exhibition also includes Omani laboratory which can check the quality of honey. According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment statistics, Qatar’s production of honey has reached 45 tonnes annually.
