Honey comes under the purview of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA).
Due to its limited production and high cost, honey is prone to adulteration by cane sugar, invert syrup and high fructose glucose syrup. While preparing this specification, the committee recognized the need to market squeezed and apiary honey separately so that there can be growth of consumer demand of apiary honey,
which is reared scientifically and processed hygienically. The present revision of the standard incorporates a number of modifications, which include:
a) The scope of the standard has been restricted to extracted honey.
b) Limit of total reducing sugar has been increased for standard grade.
c) Limit of sucrose content has been reduced for A grades and standard grades.
d) Method of glucose fructose ratio content has been modified to make it more precise.
So far, no separate standard has been issued on squeezed honey. While compiling the revision, the Apiary Industry Sectional Committee (AISC) felt that squeezed honey collected from jungles is being sold at a much lower price, further it was possible to distinguish it from apiary honey which has much less number of pollens. The Central Bee Keeping Research Institute is conducting investigation on the method of quantitative estimation for pollens and its limits in Apiary and squeezed honey. Subsequently, a separate standard would be issued and has been issued on squeezed honey, while framing these specification consideration have been given to the prevailing trade practices and the different grades prescribed by the Agricultural marketing Advisor to the Government of India for incorporation of Agmark rules framed under the Agricultural procedure for grading and marketing.