WELLINGTON -- New Zealand's government Monday said the country's honey industry needs to quickly set guidelines for labeling after yet another international alert about a New Zealand food product.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye told Radio New Zealand that an international standard was needed for New Zealand's distinctive manuka honey, which is prized for its allegedly unique health properties and sells at a premium around the world.

But the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency has issued a warning about misleading claims made on jars of some honey products, and New Zealand honey exporters say more manuka honey is being sold worldwide than other New Zealand produces.

Kaye said she understood a meeting was being held this week between honey industry representatives and officials, and the Ministry for Primary Industries hoped to release the resulting guideline label standard over the next month.

The warnings from Britain about fake New Zealand manuka honey was more bad news for New Zealand's brand reputation, which was already on the line after