Recently there have been many false claims from companies claiming their honey to be Manuka Honey from New Zealand. This has caused New Zealand Manuka Honey producers to seek the same trademark protection granted to the French Champagne and the Scottish Whisky. Trademark protection would restrict the name to a product’s region.
According to The UMF Honey Association, “they seek to protect the use of the name because imitations are damaging the brand at a time when demand in markets such as China is growing. The industry-based Manuka Honey lobby has filed for a certification trademark covering “Manuka Honey” which will be free to use for New Zealand honey made by bees foraging on Manuka flowers.”
“The increasing global demand for Manuka honey is resulting in a variety of honey products from different parts of the world claiming to be Manuka honey,” UMF spokesman John Rawcliffe said. “We need to protect it from pretenders elsewhere with their rash of ‘me too’ products and continue to build our New Zealand industry from a foundation of integrity and quality.”
Asian demand for Manuka honey has seen the price for all New Zealand honey increase, amid a global honey shortage. Bees produced $187 million of exported honey in the June 2014 year, up 8 percent by volume and almost 30 percent by value on the previous year.
UMF’s move comes as the Ministry of Primary Industries cracks down on the Manuka honey industry amid international criticism there was more Manuka honey coming out of the country than New Zealand actually produces.
In July last year, MPI introduced an interim definition of what constitutes Manuka honey as well as a labeling guide for Manuka honey, which outlines its characteristics and prevents manufacturers from making health claims. UMF Honey Association plans to transfer the trademark to an independent entity to manage.
Pacific Resources has a full range of UMF honey and work directly with New Zealand beekeepers to maintain accurate labels that are up to code with regulations for New Zealand standards.
Visit shoppri.com for more Manuka Honey products.
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/protection-sought-by-manuka-honey-producers-2015100910#ixzz3o76HsUIX
Filed under: News Tagged: Manuka Honey UMF, new zealand 
