Contaminant Testing For Honey Export
Contaminant Testing Methods Developed For Honey Export
Date: 7 Aug 2019
Author: Hill Laboratories
International border agencies are applying an ever-increasing series of compliance requirements on New Zealand honey exporters. The risks to exporters of compliance failures are substantial, not only because of the potential loss of valuable product but because they also create the potential for greater industry-wide sanctions.
In particular, testing of agricultural compounds, heavy metals and microbes are requested for export of honey into international markets including U.S.A, Europe, China and Japan. The Chinese overseas market access requirement (OMAR) document states “CIQs may test all consignments of honey for a number of substances such as agricultural compounds and heavy metals including those not listed in GB standards for honey, as well as testing for diseases such as American foulbrood.”
To ensure that honey exporters can meet these requirements with confidence, Hill Laboratories has developed reliable methods for both heavy metals and agricultural compounds in honey. Our agricultural compound suites cover hundreds of compounds, including Glyphosate, which are analysed on state-of-the-art instruments, to ensure that you can trust in the results. Our heavy metal analysis methods are proven through time and offer a cost effective way to cover a range of metals of interest. We have an award-winning history of offering pesticide residue and heavy metal analysis and have been doing it for longer than any other New Zealand analytical laboratory.
We have also developed a testing method to detect the spores and cells of American Foulbrood (AFB) in honey through our PCR method, analysed on state-of-the-art instruments. Our test results provide clients with the confidence to manage their hive health, aid with their management programmes and reduce the risk of AFB from spreading.
These methods add to our already wide range of accredited honey tests, making Hill Laboratories New Zealand’s one-stop honey testing provider. If ensuring your honey will meet export requirements is important to your business, testing with Hill Laboratories is a tried and trusted choice.
If you would like to know more about our AFB testing or any other honey testing services we provide, please get in touch.