Wednesday, 19 April 2017 12:55

Fake manuka exporters told to buzz off

Written by 
The authenticity of manuka honey exported from New Zealand is to be settled once and for all. The authenticity of manuka honey exported from New Zealand is to be settled once and for all.

The authenticity of manuka honey exported from New Zealand is to be settled once and for all.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released a scientific definition to authenticate NZ mānuka honey, hoping to seal its premium position in overseas markets.

Released last week, the definition arises from proposals for new requirements for the exporting of bee products.

Questions have arisen in overseas markets about the authenticity of some honey being sold as NZ manuka honey. Maintaining the confidence of overseas consumers in the integrity of manuka honey is a key for NZ honey exporters.

“The proposed definition and export requirements are important for the continued growth of our important export honey industry,” says MPI deputy director-general, Bryan Wilson.

Working with contracted experts, MPI has spent three years determining a science-based definition of what makes manuka honey authentic to NZ.

“Our science has been carefully planned and executed and as a result the definition is robust, sophisticated and accurate,” says Wilson.

The chief executive of Apiculture NZ, Karin Kos, is welcoming MPI’s move.

“The introduction of a regulatory science definition is a milestone in the history of the mānuka honey industry. It is a relatively young industry growing very rapidly and with huge potential.

“We signalled our willingness to work with MPI to ensure its proposed science definition is robust in meeting shared objectives for consumer confidence and authenticity, and we will make a detailed submission on behalf of industry.”

Apiculture NZ, anticipating the release of the definition, is forming an expert review team on behalf of the industry; this will examine the proposed MPI science definition. “The group will be supported by science advisors. We are only going to get one shot at this and it is important we get it right.”

MPI is aiming to bring the new requirements into effect in late July 2017.

More like this

Help available for flood-hit farmers

The chair of the Otago Rural Support Trust, Tom Pinckney, says he believes that they will be especially busy in the coming months as the enormity of the floods hit home.

Featured

State farmer opens pathway to ownership for more Kiwis

In a landmark move, the state-owned farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) is making four of its 44 dairy farms available for people wishing to take up various contracts including herd-owning, share milking, variable order share milking and contract milking.

National

Machinery & Products

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

New F5 balers from McHale

Irish grassland machinery manufacturer McHale has unveiled the new four-model range of F5 fixed chamber balers.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'Mea culpa'

OPINION: The Reserve Bank’s rate cut is great news, albeit a bit late, but your old mate agrees with Act…

Fast tracked

OPINION: While the Government’s Fast Track bill is copping it from all the usual suspects – opposition parties, greenies, unions…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter