Ensuring authentic New Zealand honey
Our reputation for honey production and export rests on the integrity of our products and the credibility of our systems. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is dedicated to ensuring that consumers get authentic New Zealand honey. To achieve this, we're:
- working with overseas regulators
- providing official assurances
- withholding official assurance for non-compliance
- developing a robust science-based definition for monofloral mānuka honey.
Strengthening the regulatory framework for exporting
In 2014, MPI and industry developed an interim guide to meet legislative labelling requirements for mānuka honey. Following the release of the interim guide, MPI worked closely with industry to assist with required label changes. On 1 January 2015, MPI began withholding Official Assurances for non-compliant product labels.
For further information, download the:
- Interim guidelines for meeting honey labelling requirements
Interim guidelines for meeting honey labelling requirements - Summary of labelling requirements
Summary of labelling requirements
Before developing the interim labelling guidelines, we analysed a large amount of data to try to identify the unique and stable characteristics of mānuka honey. MPI produced a report – Science and characterising mānuka honey: Current and future science to support a definition .
Download the science reportDownload the science report
In December 2015, MPI consulted on proposals to introduce some regulatory measures to further strengthen the official assurances framework for bee products that are exported to countries that require an official assurance. The consultation closed on 17 December and we are working through the submissions and feedback.
Find out more about the proposed changes to regulationFind out more about the proposed changes to regulation
Mānuka Honey Science Programme
MPI is leading and managing a science programme to develop a robust, science-based definition for monofloral mānuka honey. This work will ensure consumers, overseas regulators, and industry can continue to have confidence in the authenticity of mānuka honey products.
Download the MPI Mānuka Honey Science Programme fact sheetDownload the MPI Mānuka Honey Science Programme fact sheet
Getting clarity
There is no agreed scientific definition for monofloral mānuka honey, so this work will provide clarity about the characteristics of monofloral mānuka honey when sold as a food.
MPI has committed significant resource to lead the science programme. We have a dedicated science team that oversees the programme's design and undertakes independent technical review of all results produced.
The programme began in 2014 and is planned to finish in December 2016.
Next steps
The science programme has 2 phases. The first phase finished in November 2015 and phase 2 has begun. We will publish a report on our findings from both phases when available.
Once a scientific definition has been finalised, MPI will make changes to the regulations so mānuka honey that is sold as food can be checked and verified.
Having a robust scientific definition for monofloral mānuka honey will also help overseas regulators be confident that mānuka honey imported from New Zealand is verified and authentic.
History of developing a definition
Consultation on defining mānuka honey
In 2013, MPI consulted widely on options for defining monofloral mānuka honey.
- Download the Options for Defining a Monofloral Mānuka Honey consultation paper
Download the Options for Defining a Monofloral Mānuka Honey consultation paper
We received 72 submissions in response to the consultation – from beekeepers, honey producers, exporters, scientists, and others with an interest in mānuka honey:
- Summary of submissions
Summary of submissions - Full submissions on the options paper
Full submissions on the options paper
Mānuka honey industry meetings
Following the consultation, we met with about 80 representatives of the industry. At the meeting MPI agreed to establish industry and science working groups to further the work needed to create the interim labelling guidelines.
For more details on how this work evolved, you can read the notes from the initial meeting with industry and the subsequent working groups .
- Mānuka Honey Meeting Summary, 10 February 2014
Mānuka Honey Meeting Summary, 10 February 2014 - Summary notes from 11 March 2014 meeting
Summary notes from 11 March 2014 meeting - Summary notes from 12 April 2014 meeting
Summary notes from 12 April 2014 meeting - Summary notes from 14 May 2014 meeting
Summary notes from 14 May 2014 meeting - Summary notes from 10 June 2014 meeting
Summary notes from 10 June 2014 meeting
Find out more
Who to contact
If you have any questions or would like more information about the MPI Manuka Honey Science Programme, email manuka.honey@mpi.govt.nz .