Funny honey? That's not sweet

If it looks like honey, is sold as honey and says it's honey, it may not be the sweet stuff.

Especially if it's derived from corn.

The federal government is boosting its testing regime for imported honey after some shoppers recently discovered that the product they brought didn't actually come from bees.

Last year a food importer was fined $30,600 for selling syrup derived from corn and sugar cane from Turkey as Victorian honey.

Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said while the fake goods could fool consumers into buying lower quality product, they also damaged the public perception of Australian producers.

Local honey was world-class and the industry had been working to build a reputation as clean, green and sustainable.

"Honey comes from bees - the definition is clear. If it's made from synthetic or other ingredients, it's not honey," he said in a statement.

Surveillance testing of all honey consignments will start from this week, with every single honey product from Turkey to be screened until they're deemed to be complying.