History
Many of the present official honey analysis methods and regulatory standards are outdated and need revision. An International Honey Commission (IHC) chaired by Stefan Bogdanov, Switzerland, was formed in 1990 to carry out this task. The first phase of the commission’s work was aimed at proposing new methods for routine honey analysis and international standards. All modern routine honey analysis methods were collaboratively tested and compiled as "Harmonised methods of the European Honey Commission", published in Apidologie, extra issue, 1-59, 1997. Based on these methods, new honey standards were proposed for the Codex Alimentarius and the EU honey regulations. The new EU honey directive is legal since the end of 2001.
Since 1998 the IHC is chaired by Werner von der Ohe, Germany. Stefan Bogdanov is vice-chairman and Peter Martin is secretary.

Objectives of the IHC
The IHC is a network, created for the enhancement of knowledge on quality and research on honey. The main objective of this network is to improve analysis methods of honey and other bee products and to propose new quality criteria. The specific current objectives of the IHC are:
• To work out better and new analysis methods of honey and the other bee products
• To inform members of the group on current aspects of quality and control of honey and other bee products
• To work out standards for other bee products besides honey

Who can participate?
Anybody who is involved in honey research can become a member, provided that he/she is interested to participate actively in the activity of the group. Please contact the responsible person for the IHC web page (http://www.apis.admin.ch/host/honey/introduction.htm) and you will be placed on the address list. Every member is responsible for communication of changes of his/her e-mail to the web co-ordinator.
The IHC meets annually on working sessions, where the current activities of the group are discussed, new activities are planned and ideas exchanged concerning honey quality and control. However, there are no funds to cover the travel expenses of the participants of the meeting.
Your feedback is appreciated.

Activities
Working groups have been established in 2001. Each year annual meetings (e.g. Lausanne 1995, Tel Aviv 1996, Antwerp 1997, Toledo 1998, Dijon 1999, Celle 2000, Athens 2001, Celle 2002, Ljubljana 2003, Udine 2004, Dublin 2005) take place to ensure the exchange of views and opinion-forming discussions within IHC. Many annual meetings have taken place during Apimondia congresses and symposia.

Honey standards of the Codex Alimentarius and the European Union New honey standards of the European Union and the Codex Alimentarius were worked out, based on the proposals of the IHC (see publications and reports - http://www.apis.admin.ch/host/honey/introduction.htm).

	Sensory, melissopalynological and physico-chemical characteristics of European Unifloral Honeys Based on data, delivered from different European countries, quality criteria for the 15 most important unifloral honeys were established. New methods for melissopalynology and sensory analysis were also developed. The work is published in Apidologie as a special issue in 2004.
	Methods for honey characterisation For the moment, the harmonised methods, as published in "Apidologie", 1997 should be used. Most of these methods have been adopted and collaboratively tested. We are interested in improving the present methods and in the development of new ones.
	Standards for other bee products than honey There are no international standards for pollen, propolis, royal jelly and beeswax. Based on the national standards established in some countries the IHC will work out a proposal for world standards of these products.
	Residues in bee products A working group is working on the topic of residues of contaminants in bee products. The objective is to harmonise the analysis methods and the residue limits.

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