September 2018
FSANZ is aware of the concerns about imported honey products.
All food imported into Australia must meet the requirements of the Food Standards Code. There are a number of requirements in the Code that apply to honey, including compositional requirements.
Under the Code honey is a prescribed name. Food sold as ‘honey’ must:
(a) be honey; and
(b) contain:
no less than 60% reducing sugars; and
no more than 21% moisture.
Country of origin labelling requirements also apply to honey sold in Australia.
New country of origin labelling requirements came into effect on 1 July 2016 and these requirements are the responsibility of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, not FSANZ.
Australian Consumer Law may also apply to any product labelled in a misleading or deceptive way. You can read more about misleading and deceptive conduct on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.
The standards in the Food Standards Code become part of the food Acts in states and territories and in New Zealand. The laws in these food Acts are enforced by state and territory agencies and in New Zealand the Ministry for Primary Industries.
More information
