The Bee Products Standards Council will settle an industry dispute over manuka honey by taking over the implementation of new standards for the highly sought-after honey.
The industry has been divided over how manuka's unique antibacterial properties should be measured and described on honey products.
A steering committee set up last year to address the dispute found it needed wider industry support to bring in the standards.
A committee member, Steve Lyttle, says the Bee Products Standards Council seems the logical industry body to do it but funding will now be the biggest obstacle.
Council chair Jim Edwards says the council is currently funded by industry contributions and it needs a more reliable source.
But the move acknowledges the importance of getting the manuka standards right, he says, and it's hoped to have the new ones in place by October.
