Industry Owned Quality Assurance Programs
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B-QUAL Australia Pty Ltd is the quality assurance and food safety certification program created by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) to uphold best practice standards across the nation’s honeybee sector. Covering honey production, queen bees, pollination services and packing, the program ensures compliance with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and international regulations, including the European Union, giving producers access to both domestic and export markets. Certification is achieved through training, self-assessment, and independent audits administered by Safe Food Australia, with over 300 members already engaged.
As an industry-owned and trusted system, B-QUAL provides producers with recognised certification under its logo, demonstrating food safety, traceability, and biosecurity compliance. The program also supports the industry with resources such as quality standards, auditor training manuals, biosecurity plans, and educational content on challenges like Varroa mite. Through newsletters, workshops, and its digital initiatives, B-QUAL helps strengthen product integrity and market confidence, ensuring that Australian honey and bee products meet the highest standards worldwide.
B-TRACE Australia, a division of B-QUAL Australia Pty Ltd, is a quality assurance and food safety program designed specifically for small and semi-commercial beekeepers. It provides an affordable way for producers with up to 300 hives or 15,000 kg of honey per year to meet regulatory requirements and industry standards. Members gain access to a web-based hive management and record-keeping app that supports compliance with the National Biosecurity Code of Practice and HACCP-based food safety standards, alongside an annual online desk audit that grants certification and independent validation of their practices.
The program enhances credibility and market opportunities by allowing members to use the B-TRACE logo, promote product authenticity, and build consumer trust—particularly valuable for those selling at farmers markets, direct to consumers, or through boutique outlets. Developed by B-QUAL and supported by Safe Food Australia, B-TRACE offers practical tools, audit assistance, and ongoing industry updates, making it a cost-effective and accessible assurance pathway designed by beekeepers, for beekeepers.
