Honey Testing

Honey Testing

Hill Labs provides comprehensive honey testing services to support beekeepers and honey manufacturers across New Zealand. Using advanced technology and proven methods, we deliver accurate results with a focus on efficiency and affordability.

Our innovative digital tools are designed to help you optimise the value of your honey, giving you actionable insights to enhance your product's quality and market potential.

Manuka 5 Attributes

Our Mānuka 5 Attributes test is the MPI science definition of Mānuka honey, as announced 11 April 2017. This test is for MPI's General Requirement for Export (GREX) for honey.

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UMF® Release Certificate

For members of the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) that require a UMF® Release Certificate.

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3-IN-1 Honey Suite

A combination of three of our most popular manuka honey tests (MGO, DHA & HMF) all done as one analysis using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC).

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Non-Peroxide Activity (NPA)

MGO results are converted into Non-Peroxide Activity (NPA). NPA is an indicator of the activity in manuka honey. NPA can be requested with the 3-in-1 Honey Suite at no extra cost.

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Leptosperin in Manuka Honey

Leptosperin is a natural product in manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey and is required with the 3 in 1 Honey Suite and Manuka 5 Attributes for a UMF® certificate.

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Tutin

Tutin is a toxic compound that may be present in honey that has been produced where tutu plants are present. Testing for Tutin in honey is regulated under an Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) standard.

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American Foulbrood (AFB)

American foulbrood (AFB) is a fatal bacterial disease of honey bee brood caused by the spore forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae.

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C4 Sugar AOAC

The C4 sugar test detects if honey has been adulterated by the addition of sugar.

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C4 Sugar Screening

The C4 sugar screen is a cost effective and timely analysis used to screen for possible honey adulteration.

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Glyphosate

Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide. Glyphosate testing in honey is now a requirement for any producer exporting to Japan.

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Other Honey Tests

We offer a variety of honey testing types. Check the complete list of tests available for you.

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Special pricing for ApiNZ members

We support the work that Apiculture NZ does for the broader honey industry, and are glad to be able to provide additional benefits to ApiNZ members through favorable pricing for our services. To view the list of discounts click here. Please use this request form to receive the special pricing.

Helpful links

Our team of testing experts has meticulously crafted these documents to offer recommendations tailored to your testing requirements.

Latest Stories

Announcement: Hill Labs Broadens Food and Water Services with Acquisitions

We are pleased to announce that at the end of this month, a series of acquisitions will take place on the same day. Firstly, a new company jointly owned by Hill Labs and Sam Brooks will acquire the Canterbury-based sister companies ‘Food and Health Standards’ (FHS) and ‘Auditing Solutions’ (AS) from Ian and Gail Shaw. FHS and AS provide Environmental Health Officer services, food safety auditing services, and municipal water sample collection services to a range of customers within and beyond Canterbury. Secondly, the water operations within FHS, led by Lisa Shaw, will be carved out and moved into Hill Labs, while maintaining a close relationship with FHS.
  17 Feb 2025

Hill News February 2025 - Update From Our MD, Dr Jonno Hill

This, our first Hill News for 2025, has a couple of headline articles that I want to highlight. The first relates to a series of acquisitions that will be completed essentially simultaneously at the end of this month. There is some complexity in the deals that we are doing, but essentially there will be two main outcomes – increased capability within Hill Labs, and a partnership we will be entering into via a separate company.
  13 Feb 2025

Reflections from the NZSSS Conference

The New Zealand Soil Science Society conference was held in Rotorua in December 2024 and Erin McIlmurray, our Market Sector Manager - Agriculture, attended for the first time. She took away some new learnings and discovered some valuable insights.
  13 Feb 2025

What our customers have to say

"We've always found them to be responsive in getting results back and giving advice on problems we might be facing."

Andrew Hutchinson, Technical Manager, Turners & Growers

"We strongly recommend Hill Labs as a sound testing service provider to the honey industry."

Nick Walker, Technical Manager, Egmont Honey

"Their sample registration system has made things simple and seamless - collect, scan and send!"

Mathew Bannister, Compliance Manager, First Fresh New Zealand

Accreditations

As a New Zealand accredited laboratory by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), Hill Labs' commitment to quality is tantamount to our overall operating philosophy. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work.