The current threats to the Australian beekeeping industry mean that it has never been more important to protect and promote our industry to ensure our long-term economic viability. Back in 2022, AHBIC launched our “Honey Fighting Fund” to begin a multi-pronged approach which included gathering authenticity data in order to protect Australia’s beekeeping industry and using the de-identified info in building a solid, data driven de-identified platform to advocate on behalf of industry to our government for policy reform.

DAFF Honey Survey Details

As a result of AHBIC’s pressure and relationship building with our federal counterparts we can now share work that has been undertaken. The Australian Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) conducted a pilot survey to assess the authenticity of imported honey samples and compare the department’s current border tests with the performance of selected commercially available analytical tests.

The survey was undertaken with food regulatory agencies in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, which assisted with sample collection activities. Sampling was conducted between October and November 2025, with samples collected from importers and retail sources representing 95% of the imported honey (excluding NZ).

Laboratory analysis was conducted by the National Measurement Institute.

Testing included both:

• the existing Imported Food Inspection Scheme honey testing panel (current federal mandated tests for imported honey) which includes C4 carbon isotope test, moisture content and reducing sugars, and
• a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based honey profiling method (which generates a chemical fingerprint of honey samples, compares samples with an international reference database and identifies atypical profiles).

 

AHBIC advocated for additional test assays to be included but were unable to secure the support from DAFF, however additional samples were taken to allow for further analysis.

What was the testing looking at:

Australia’s current government importation testing protocols utilise the C4 carbon isotope honey test, which we have demonstrated through AHBIC’s Honey Fighting Fund initial testing, to be insufficient in detecting basic global fraudulent methods. The DAFF pilot survey was designed to help substantiate AHBIC claims through comparing the panel test results with the NMR profiling.

Survey Results

All samples passed the government mandated panel of tests.  However, a number of samples were identified through NMR as suspected to have foreign sugars present. These results align with the previous AHBIC tests results and has highlighted the problem to government through this independent testing.

Potential Industry Outcomes

The DAFF survey has demonstrated the potential weakness of the existing testing assays. DAFF have committed to working with AHBIC to evaluate alternative or additional testing to strengthen our boarder protection.

Results have been shared with the participating state food regulators and coordinated engagement with participating businesses is underway to communicate results with importers.

DAFF is now considering how best to implement the findings of the survey. AHBIC will continue to put pressure on the department for change, but it is a slow process. DAFF will continue working collaboratively with industry, state and territory regulators, technical experts and international counterparts to further evaluate available analytical methods that may strengthen Australia’s approach to detecting imports of adulterated honey.