Physico-chemical properties for identifying the honey quality In Kazakhstan laws In EU laws free acidity electrical conductivity x
express method
hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content reducing sugars non-reducing sugars x
diastase activity ash content x
moisture content express method
pollen content pH express method
Table1. Physico-chemical properties for identifying the honey quality in Kazakhstan and EU
laws
Discussion As can be seen from the table one there are differences in the analyzing methods of honey
between Kazakhstan and European countries. It is very important to adopt European practice of
honey quality analysis, especially using of express methods.
For example, for identifying the moisture content in Kazakhstan used refractometer which
shows the index of refraction, with what we can calculate the moisture content of honey
(Interstate council of standardization, metrology and certification, 2012). In the European
countries the moisture content measured using a Pocket Refractometer, which is considered as
express method (Salonen, 2011).
The situation with identifying of honey colour is very different in comparison of Kazakhstan
and Europe. In European countries colour measurements are doing according to the method
recommended by the International Commission of Illumination (C.I.E., 1986) with
spectrophotometer in a certain wavelengths. In Kazakhstan there is no information about
identifying of honey colour, but there is Russian state standard where indicated methods for
this. The way of colour measurements by this standard very simple, by the visual assessment
(Interstate council of standardization, metrology and certification, 2012).