Manuka honey win for Aussie producers
Australia’s Manuka honey industry has welcomed a recent ruling by New Zealand’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) that NZ honey producers have no exclusive claim to the term “Manuka honey”.
In response to rising demand, the Australian industry has plans to grow international sales. This trademark win follows earlier Australian successes in other jurisdictions including the UK and Europe.
Ben McKee, Australian Manuka Honey Association Chairman, said the IPO judgement confirms that the Australian product has a long history of being recognised as Manuka honey — it is produced like the NZ product and offers the same antimicrobial properties.
“This decision is a sensible outcome that ensures Aussie beekeepers can fairly market their produce. It also sees NZ following other precedents around the world that Manuka honey is a descriptive term,” McKee said.
With growing research highlighting the health benefits of Manuka honey, there is strong demand for the Australian product from countries such as the United States, Japan, China and Germany.
This will benefit not just Australian Manuka producers, but the broader industry and all those involved in producing the product as a consumable or an ingredient in health, pharmaceutical and beauty products, according to McKee.
“The fact that even authorities in New Zealand cannot find a way to support the trademark claims of NZ producers should, we hope, bring this legal dispute to an end once and for all,” McKee said.
Under the umbrella of the Manuka Honey Appellation Society (MHAS), there was a particular group of NZ producers that had spearheaded the trademark campaign, though other beekeepers and industry members were prepared to work more collaboratively with the Australian industry.
“The opportunities for Australian Manuka honey are huge. Hopefully we can now focus on promoting this wonderful medicinal honey to the world, rather than fighting over naming rights,” McKee said.
The international Manuka honey market is forecast to be worth around $1.27 billion in annual trade by 2027.
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