Achievements of the programme

The required quality level demanded of medical grade honey does not come without cost implications. It is this high level of quality (achieved through specific standards and systems defined by Comvita) that sets medical grade honey above all other grades of honey, and warrants the exclusive use in premium medical applications for the medical market.

Until the year 2002, it was difficult to find honey that met the stringent international Medical Device manufacturing requirements.Through workshops, education programmes, assessment and auditing processes, the accredited honey supply programme was able to produce sufficient medical grade honey in 2003 to see the first honey-impregnated Medical Devices launched onto the medical market. With the ongoing support and supply of the honey suppliers within the accredited honey supply programme, we are able to sustain the supply of raw medical grade honey, as well as to begin to extend the range of honey-impregnated Medical Devices.

References

Cooper RA, Molan PC (1999) The use of honey as an antiseptic in managing Pseudomonas infection. J Wound Care 8: 161–4

Cooper RA, Molan PC, Harding KG (1999) Antibacterial activity of honey against strains of Staphylococcus aureus from infected wounds. J R Soc Med 92: 283–5

Cooper RA, Molan PC, Krishnamoorthy L, Harding KG (2001) Manuka honey used to heal a recalcitrant surgical wound. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 20: 758–9

Molan PC (1998) A brief review of honey as a clinical dressing. Primary Intention 6: 148–58

Molan PC (2001) Honey for the treatment of wounds and burns. New Ethical J July: 1–16

Molan PC, Allen KL (1996) The effect of gamma-irradiation on the antibacterial activity of honey. J Pharm Pharmacol 48: 1206–09

Mossel DAA (1980) Honey for necrotic breast ulcers. Lancet ii: 1091

Snowdon JA, Cliver DO (1996) Microorganisms in honey. Int J Microbiol 31: 1–26

Snowdon JA (1999) The microbiology of honey — meeting your buyers’ specifications (Why they do what they do). Am Bee J xx: 51–9

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