The protection of New Zealand’s lucrative UMF Honey exports to China has moved a step closer, with the signing this week of a memorandum of understanding between The Jiangsu Entry and Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of the People's Republic of China (CIQ) and the UMF Honey Association (UMFHA).

UMFHA General Manager, John Rawcliffe said the main intent of the memorandum involves both parties working together to implement laboratory testing of Manuka honey in China to ensure the validity of product sold there.

"Since signing the memorandum, the UMFHA and its key partner in Singapore - AsureQuality - have been working with technicians from the CIQ which is the Chinese Government-run agency that tests food and veterinary products entering the country…