Standard 2.8.2
Honey
Purpose
This Standard defines honey and sets certain compositional requirements for the product. This Standard also makes the word ‘honey’ a prescribed name for the purposes of this Code.
Table of Provisions
1 Interpretation
2 Composition of honey
3 Prescribed name
Clauses
1 Interpretation
In this Code -
honey means the natural sweet substance produced by honey bees from the nectar of blossoms or from secretions of living parts of plants or excretions of plant sucking insects on the living parts of plants, which honey bees collect, transform and combine with specific substances of their own, store and leave in the honey comb to ripen and mature.
2 Composition for honey
Honey must contain -
(a) no less than 60 % reducing sugars; and
(b) no more than 21 % moisture.
3 Prescribed name
The word ‘honey’ is a prescribed name.
Overview
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Amendment (2011 Measures) Instrument 2018 (F2008B00657) was enacted to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, specifically addressing the compositional standards for honey. This legislative instrument was introduced to ensure clarity and consistency in the definition and quality standards of honey sold in Australia and New Zealand. The objective is to protect consumers by ensuring that products labelled as honey meet specific compositional requirements, thus maintaining the integrity and quality of honey in the marketplace. The amendment was enacted by the Parliament of Australia and is administered by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority, aiming to uphold public health and consumer protection by prescribing the allowable composition of honey and making the word ‘honey’ a protected term.
Scope and Application
The Standard 2.8.2 Honey sets forth the requirements for the composition and naming of honey within the legislative framework. It applies to the product honey as defined, which is the natural sweet substance produced by honey bees from nectar or secretions from plants and insects. This definition ensures that the product referred to as honey adheres to specific criteria, including a minimum of 60% reducing sugars and a maximum of 21% moisture content. Additionally, the term 'honey' is designated as a prescribed name under this Standard, meaning its use is regulated to prevent misleading descriptions in the marketplace. The scope of this Standard encompasses anyone involved in the production, processing, labelling, or selling of honey, ensuring compliance with the compositional requirements and the proper use of the term 'honey'. This applies nationally within Australia, and its reach extends to any industry involved in honey production or sales. Exclusions or exemptions are not explicitly stated in the provided clauses, and any further specifications or extensions of the application would likely be detailed in subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the F2008B00657 Standard define what constitutes honey, set compositional requirements for the product, and establish the term "honey" as a prescribed name under the Code. Section 1 (1) provides an interpretation of "honey," explaining it as a natural sweet substance produced by honey bees from nectar, secretions, or excretions of plants. Section 2 lays out the compositional requirements, stipulating that honey must contain no less than 60% reducing sugars and no more than 21% moisture. Section 3 declares "honey" as a prescribed name, meaning it cannot be used interchangeably with other terms without compliance with the Code’s specifications.
Under this Standard, parties or entities that produce, package, or label honey must ensure that their products meet the specified compositional requirements. This includes verifying that the honey contains at least 60% reducing sugars and no more than 21% moisture. Additionally, they must use the term "honey" accurately and in accordance with the prescribed definitions and standards set out in the Code. This obligation extends to all stages of production, packaging, and labelling to ensure that consumers are not misled regarding the nature and quality of the honey product.
Breach of the compositional requirements or mislabelling of honey as per this Standard can lead to significant consequences. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided excerpt, it is generally understood that such breaches could result in legal actions, fines, or other regulatory sanctions under the broader legislative framework governing food standards in Australia. The enforcement of these standards is crucial for maintaining consumer trust and ensuring the safety and quality of honey products available in the market.