AMHA renames to Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association

[NZHS]

What has been known as AMHA - the Active Manuka Honey Association of New Zealand have recently been renamed.

They are now called the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (or UMF Honey Association). This is to help consumers with clarification on genuine UMF® Manuka Honey, and reduce confusion with the proliferation of other honeys now becoming labelled as 'active'.

AMHA / Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association are the owners and custodians of the UMF® quality standard, which distinguishes that manuka honey which does contain the special extra properties identified in various published scientific studies.

There will be a natural changeover period as licensees are able to change there labels where some jars will still refer to the AMHA license number. But the new quality logos and Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association name will soon become more prevalent.

It has always been the case that not all manuka honey is the same. As the term 'active' has become more misleadingly used / abused, the name change by the association helps consumers find that honey which does actually meet the research and health properties that the reputation of manuka is based on.

www.umf.org.nz

[Admin]

Just to post a further update to this (which has actually been in place since end of last year).

The UMF Honey Association has partnered with the UK's Food and Environment Research Agency - FERA - to have the opportunity to validate / verify test results in the UK. Fera can carry out the same testing / measuring as is done for the UMF® standard, to show whether a jar stands up to its label claim or not. Thus offering additional consumer assurance for the UMF® quality standard.

It should also be a good thing for British consumers in the medium term as some brands being sold get shown they do not actually contain the level of properties that their label implies.