Australia, New Zealand fight bitter war over honey
Australian honey producers have been stung by the news that New Zealand’s honey industry is in the process of trying to trademark the word ‘manuka’ around the globe.
In response, Australian producers have created a new industry body called the Australian Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) in order to fight the bitter feud.
AMHA Chairman Paul Callander explained to Xinhua on Monday the function of the new organization is to ensure international governments understand the product is also native to Australia.
“The Australian Manuka Honey Association will strive to ensure Australia’s manuka honey gets a fair go in the global marketplace,” he said.
“Our new association is determined to protect the integrity and reputation of Australian Manuka Honey.”
Considered a superfood, the buzz around manuka honey comes from its ‘healing power’ and anti-inflammatory properties.
Containing methylglyoxal compounds, the product is able to fight off superbugs and heal cuts and wounds.
Callander said if the campaign by New Zealand is successful, it would have a severe impact on the capacity of Australia’s industry, as the product is highly sought after around the world and fetches a premium price overseas. One of the New Zealand honey producers are attempting to trademark is China. “China is a massive market. Around 40-50 percent of the world’s manuka honey is sold to China. So we won’t be giving in without a fight,” Callander said.
New Zealand claims the honey as their own because manuka is an indigenous Mori word.
Turkish Lira Euro British Pound Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Crude Oil Gold Copper 0.2650 1.1611 1.3133 0.7675 0.7794 $54.01 $1270.60 $3.09 Japanese 100 Yen Chinese Yuan UAE Dirham Kuwaiti Dinar Iraqi 100 Dinar Silver Platinum Wheat 0.8798 0.1504 0.2722 3.3021 0.0851 $16.75 $917.10 $426.50