News
Recent press releases:
16 April 2008
AMHA Active Manuka Honey Association - NEWS RELEASE
The Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) has terminated Manuka Health NZ Ltd's membership after the company breached the Association's membership rules.
AMHA Brand Manager, John Rawcliffe, said product testing had shown that Manuka Health had packed and sold UMF® honey that was not true to label.
"As a result of the termination of membership, Manuka Health is no longer entitled to use the UMF® trade mark on any of its promotional materials and products, including those currently on shelf," Mr Rawcliffe said.
"AMHA has requested that Manuka Health immediately remove all products and marketing material with the brand UMF® from the marketplace."
He said AMHA had also been concerned about Manuka Health activities which were viewed by the Association as being contrary to the best interests of AMHA, the UMF® trade mark and other members.
"For some time now, we have been alarmed about Manuka Health claims made in promotional materials which could mislead the public to believe that UMF® Honey had unsupported medical claims. This contravenes AMHA's membership protocol which requires any health claims on promotional materials be substantiated by results produced by approved and properly conducted scientific trials and investigations. Such claims also do not comply with current New Zealand law."
Mr Rawcliffe said there were also a number of additional matters uncovered during the course of AMHA's general licensing inquiries.
"These matters are now currently under investigation by company fraud investigators, in liaison with the appropriate authorities.
"AMHA views any breach of its membership rules very seriously.
"The Association estimates that sales of UMF® honey and honey containing products both locally and offshore currently represent more than NZD$100 million in annual turnover.
"Protecting the UMF® brand and customers who purchase UMF® products is, therefore, paramount. AMHA continues to monitor local and offshore UMF®-related activities, to ensure the robustness of the brand."
UMF® honey has antibacterial properties which are naturally present in various strengths in some strains of Manuka honey. The UMF® Test Standard was established to identify and set apart the UMF® Manuka honey which has the antibacterial properties in it. The Test Standard is the only standard worldwide that has been specifically developed to identify and measure the antibacterial strength of UMF® honey.
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For further information:
Christine Meads
P: 09 525 0060
M: 027 294 0823
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13 March 2008
AMHA Active Manuka Honey Association - NEWS RELEASE
SEARCH WARRANT EXECUTED TO PROTECT UMF® BRAND
A search warrant has been executed by the Police in conjunction with company fraud investigators of the ICIL Group, as part of an investigation into the alleged fraudulent activity of a senior employee of a honey company licensed to sell UMF® (Unique Manuka Factor™) honey and honey products.
The investigation was carried out on behalf of the Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) - an industry body responsible for developing and maintaining the UMF® brand. It is the organisation’s first enforcement action against alleged fraudulent activity.
Search warrants were executed at addresses associated with a person who has allegedly been involved in creating fraudulent documents claiming that products met the UMF® Test Standard. The allegations are of an historical nature.
AMHA Brand Manager, John Rawcliffe, said protecting the UMF® brand and customers who purchase UMF® products was paramount.
“AMHA continues to monitor local and offshore UMF®-related activities, to ensure the robustness of the brand.”
AMHA estimates that sales of UMF® honey and honey containing products both locally and offshore currently represent more than NZD$100 million in annual turnover.
UMF® honey has antibacterial properties which are naturally present in various strengths in some strains of Manuka honey. The UMF® Test Standard was established to identify and set apart the UMF® Manuka honey which has the antibacterial healing properties in it. The UMF® Test Standard is the only standard worldwide that has been specifically developed to identify and measure the antibacterial strength of honey identified as UMF® honey.
The presence of such properties in UMF® honey can be detected only by special scientific testing using criteria laid down by the Honey Research Unit at The University of Waikato.
AMHA was established in September 2002 from an industry group which operated from the mid 1990s and which recognised the need to develop and maintain for members the UMF® brand as representing products for superior anti-bacterial applications. UMF® is the registered name and trademark of AMHA and can be used only by licensed users who meet set criteria which includes the monitoring and auditing of the quality of their honey.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christine Meads
P: 09 525 0060
M: 027 294 0823
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AMHA was established in September 2002 from an industry group which operated from the mid 1990s and which recognized the need to develop and maintain for members the UMF® brand as representing products for superior anti-bacterial applications.
UMF® is the registered name and trademark of AMHA and can be used only by license users who meet set criteria which includes the monitoring and auditing of the quality of their honey.
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