Reference · Resources

Resources & Citations

Everything on honey.in is built on evidence. Here are the official sources and further reading we rely on — regulators, government missions, and peer-reviewed research on Indian honey.

Official Indian sources

FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India sets honey composition and purity standards — moisture, sugars, HMF, C4 sugars, and the Specific Marker for Rice Syrup (AFGP).

fssai.gov.in →

National Bee Board

The technical and coordinating body under the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission — training, standards and support for scientific beekeeping.

nbb.gov.in →

GI Registry

The register of Geographical Indications in India — where honey GIs like Ramban Sulai and Sundarban Mouban are recorded.

ipindia.gov.in →

APEDA

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority — export data and market support for Indian honey.

apeda.gov.in →

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare

Home of the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission and the "Sweet Revolution" — policy, schemes and production data.

agricoop.nic.in →

ICAR & research institutes

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and its bee research institutes publish much of the peer-reviewed work on Indian apiculture.

icar.org.in →

Standards & regulations

  • FSSAI honey standards: the current Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) provisions covering honey composition and purity parameters.
  • Codex Alimentarius Standard for Honey (CXS 12-1981): the international reference for honey composition, which Indian standards align with.
  • AGMARK / BIS specifications: voluntary quality marks for honey in India.
  • Export requirements: APEDA and destination-country requirements (e.g. EU/US) for honey entering export markets.
Standards evolve: FSSAI has strengthened honey parameters in response to adulteration, including the rice syrup marker. Check the current notification before relying on any figure. We update this page periodically.

Peer-reviewed & further reading

  • Honey adulteration detection: studies on stable isotope analysis, NMR and the detection of rice and sugar syrups in honey — the science behind modern purity testing.
  • Indian apiculture & the Sweet Revolution: papers and reports on the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission, production trends and rural livelihoods.
  • Apis species of India: entomological studies on Apis cerana indica, Apis dorsata, Apis florea and stingless bees — nesting, behaviour and honey composition.
  • Honey & health: systematic reviews on honey's antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and its role in cough relief.
  • GI & regional honeys: research on Ramban Sulai, Sundarban Mouban and other regional specialties — composition, provenance and market value.
  • Honey in Ayurveda: classical and modern analyses of Madhu in the Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas.
Open book with botanical illustrations of bees and honey plants
Evidence-based, cited, and updated — that's the honey.in promise.
Honeycomb being cut with a hot knife releasing golden honey
Good honey starts in the comb — and good information starts with good sources.

A note on our approach

honey.in is an independent, educational resource. We are not a brand, a shop, or a certification body. We cite official sources and peer-reviewed research, we flag where figures are approximate, and we update content as standards and data evolve. If you spot something out of date, we'd welcome a note via the contact link in the footer.

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