Glyphosate is a herbicide that can end up in honey when sprayed in areas where bees are foraging (e.g. pasture that is being desiccated during wilting) or near hives. Some countries have shown particular attention to this chemical, enforcing a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for honey exported to those countries.
Known Glyphosate Maximum Residue Limits:
- Japan: 0.01 mg/kg
- Europe: 0.05 mg/kg
- New Zealand: 0.1 mg/kg
Aside from where requested in domestic and international markets, testing honey for Glyphosate may be of value to check whether Glyphosate use near hives is contributing to increased levels of Glyphosate in honey from different apiary sites.
Analytica's method measures Glyphosate, AMPA and Glufosinate in honey. We test for glyphosate to the detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg (in-line with Japan’s MRL) and to the lower limit of 0.004 mg/kg.
As part of our Glyphosate service, you will receive both detection limits (through separate reports) providing you with these significant benefits
- Report you can use for export, including for export to Japan
- Reassurance that the honey is likely to comply with regulatory requirements when testing variation is considered, providing some buffer against testing variation is retested (here or overseas)
- Receive helpful information that can be used to make more accurate blending decisions.
Read more about Glyphosate in our various articles, we have written for the New Zealand Beekeeper here:
How does Analytica conduct the test
Following solvent extraction and FMOC derivatisation, the honey sample is analysed for glyphosate residue using Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Pricing and Turnaround Time
Please contact Analytica for current pricing and TATs on 07 974 4740 or at sales@analytica.co.nz