The International Honey Commission -
World Network of Honey and Bee Product Science
This is the homepage of the International Honey Commission (IHC) a network of scientists in bee products, mainly honey.
An International Honey Commission (IHC) chaired by Stefan Bogdanov, was formed in 1990 in order to create a new world honey standard. The first phase of the commissions 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.
Next, the major European unifloral honeys were characterised in a special issue of Apidoligie, 35, 2004, allowing a better trade of these honeys.
Since 1998 the IHC is chaired by Werner von der Ohe, Stefan Bogdanov is vice-chairman.
Current Objectives of the IHC
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