Manuka honey is produced from the nectar of the manuka tree, unique to New Zealand and Australia, and contains methylglyoxal (MGO), providing antibacterial and antioxidant properties that aid wound healing and soothe the gastrointestinal tract. However, China's AQSIQ has repeatedly detected adulteration in imported manuka honey: in January 2014, 7 batches totalling 1,614 kg of manuka honey from France and New Zealand were destroyed or returned; in December 2013, 327 kg of New Zealand manuka honey was found adulterated and returned; in November 2013, 105 kg of Australian manuka honey was returned due to inconsistency between goods and documentation. These incidents involved importers including Binke Shi (Beijing) Trading Co.

, Ltd. Specific details of the adulteration and subsequent handling plans are pending announcement.

For New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners, manuka honey is a key export product, but frequent adulteration incidents serve as a warning: market access in China is becoming stricter. The investigations by China's AQSIQ indicate that they have ramped up testing, which is good news for businesses that operate with integrity — it can weed out inferior competitors and enhance the reputation of quality products. At the same time, New Zealand exporters need to ensure supply chain transparency and establish a traceability system from beehive to export to avoid damage to the overall brand from isolated cases of adulteration.

Furthermore, this incident may prompt Chinese consumers to pay more attention to certifications such as the UMF rating. It is recommended that enterprises proactively engage with Chinese official certification bodies to adapt to standards in advance. Another perspective is that the adulteration scandal will dampen consumer confidence in the short term; you should seize this opportunity to promote the authenticity of your own products, for example, by highlighting New Zealand origin and third-party test reports on packaging.

In the long run, demand for high-value health products in China continues to grow, but as the market becomes more regulated, it will rely more on brand trust. Therefore, it is essential to operate in compliance with regulations and consider joining industry self-regulatory organisations to jointly uphold the international reputation of manuka honey.

Keywords: Manuka honey, Methylglyoxal, New Zealand, Australia, Adulteration, Import non-compliance, Antibacterial, Honey bee, AQSIQ, Product returns

麦卢卡蜂蜜是新西兰和澳大利亚特有麦卢卡茶树花蜜酿制的蜂蜜，含有独麦素，具有抗菌和抗氧化作用，能促进伤口愈合和调养胃肠道。然而，中国国家质检总局多次检出进口麦卢卡蜂蜜掺假：2014年1月，7批次共1614千克来自法国和新西兰的麦卢卡蜂蜜被销毁或退货；2013年12月，327千克新西兰麦卢卡蜂蜜被掺假退货；2013年11月，105千克澳大利亚麦卢卡蜂蜜因货证不符被退货。这些事件涉及宾客仕(北京)商贸有限责任公司等进口商。

具体掺假细节及后续处理方案待公布。

对于新西兰中小企业主，麦卢卡蜂蜜是重要出口产品，但频繁的掺假事件警示我们：中国市场的准入正变得更严格。中国质检总局的查处表明，他们已加强检测，这对诚信经营的企业是利好——能筛掉劣质竞争者，提升优质产品的信誉。但同时，新西兰出口商需确保供应链透明，建立从蜂场到出口的溯源体系，避免因个别掺假案例损害整体品牌。

此外，此事件可能促使中国消费者更关注认证（如UMF评级），建议企业主动对接中国官方认证机构，提前适应标准。另一视角是，掺假丑闻短期内会抑制消费信心，你应利用这个机会宣传自身产品的纯正性，例如在包装上突出新西兰原产地和第三方检测报告。长远看，中国对高价值保健品的需求仍在增长，但市场规范后将更依赖品牌信任度。

因此，务必合规经营，并考虑加入行业自律组织，共同维护麦卢卡蜂蜜的国际声誉。

关键词: 麦卢卡蜂蜜, 独麦素, 新西兰, 澳大利亚, 掺假, 进口不合格, 抗菌, 蜜蜂, 国家质检总局, 退货

Photo by JonathanPayne on Pixabay

Source: Sogou Baike