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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, MAY 2017
MANUKA HONEY SCIENCE DEFINITION UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT Karin Kos, Apiculture New Zealand Chief Executive The Ministry for Primary Industries’ long-awaited release of its scientific definition of mānuka honey has seen a lot of activity behind the scenes as members work through what it will mean for them, their businesses, their customers and for our industry overall.
That has meant seeking information from our members, and we’re very appreciative of those ApiNZ members who have openly shared their lab test results with the group. Another important aspect of the public consultation is MPI’s workshops being held around the country. You’ll see these outlined on page 6. I encourage you to attend and make the most of that opportunity. We are only going
We were pleased that MPI opened up the science definition for industry review and consultation which ends soon, on 23 May. To make the most of this, Apiculture NZ has established an expert review team, made up of our Standards, Compliance and Regulatory Focus Group, along with a number of science advisors. This group has been busy undertaking due diligence on the definition and at the end of this process will deliver an industry-wide ApiNZ submission to MPI.
Apiculture New Zealand shares MPI’s objective in having a robust definition that will give consumers confidence that they are purchasing authentic mānuka honey sourced from New Zealand. Having a clear, tight and widely endorsed approach to the identity of New Zealand mānuka honey will also give our international partners confidence in our ability as an industry and country to protect the integrity of this product.
FACTS AND STATISTICS
Mānuka Honey Science Programme 2014-2017
MPI SCIENCE DEFINITION
1 ST
3 independent experts from New Zealand, Australia and
government in the world to invest in a robust science programme to develop a scientific definition for any type of honey
Canada conduct peer review of key aspects of the science programme
12 More than
Nectar, leaf and pollen samples collected from over 700 plants representing 29 species from 12 regions
804 honey samples collected from the past 7 production years: approximately 120 New Zealand beekeepers, honey producers and 16 other countries
scientific organisations provided expertise to the programme
A combination of five attributes
test results produced and over 1,000 statistical analyses performed 10,000 Over
in New Zealand and 5 States in Australia
( 4 chemicals, 1 DNA marker from mānuka pollen) are required to authenticate monofloral
different honey types collected and tested 20 Over
and multifloral mānuka honey
18 different data sets representing over
11,000 honey samples from industry and MPI funded work were used to help scope the programme
14 chemical attributes Investigation of previously identified
Plant samples collected during 2 flowering seasons :
2
MPI starts Mānuka Honey Science Programme in 2014
new laboratory test methods developed
8 pilot projects funded to identify suitable approach
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