Slovenian honey with protected geographical indication (SHPGI)
Description
Slovenian honey with protected geographical indication is a system of product labelling ensuring the consumer the product is of Slovenian origin, meeting special, higher, quality standards. Slovenian honey in general is of relatively high quality. In addition to that Slovenia is quite self-sufficient (85% in 2009 and more that 100% in some years) in production of honey and the yearly per capita consumption is by 1.1 kg very much above world’s average of 0.2 kg. Nevertheless, price of honey does not seem to exhibit the quality of the product. Highlighting higher quality of produce by special brands (trade mark of protected geographical indication), such as the one described here addresses new market niches and higher added value can be achieved.
Beekeepers and facilities for processing honey have to meet special production and processing standards and then they can obtain a facility’s certificate and label their products with the above mentioned indication. The indication is a common trade mark (a brand) registered by Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association as intellectual property. The association also provides control over producers who utilize the indication and is the official holder of the protected brand. It is the umbrella organization of this system. It provides professional service to beekeepers/ production facilities that hold certificate for system of indication (control, standards, labels and promotion) by engaging public consulting service in beekeeping and Committee of the association’s management board for the indication. Association also provides data on producers of the indication to third parties.
The regulation supporting this instrument: Rules on a Slovenian honey with protected geographical indication, which is based on provisions of 2. par. of art. 86 of the Agriculture Act.
The certificate for the indication is valid for 4 years. Frequency of internal control is set by outcomes of previous controls. More than 200 beekeepers or other honey producing facilities holds a certificate for the indication.
Full reference
Pravilnik za slovenski med z zaščiteno geografsko označbo (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 46/2009 (EVA 2009-2311-0103; SOP 2009-01-2275))
Related to
• Forest act, 1993 (Slovenia) (1993)
• Resolution on National Forest Programme, 2007 (Slovenia) (2007)
| Policy | |
| Year | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Policy area | Agriculture and Rural Development, Forestry, Food safety, Product labelling and packaging |
| Affected activity | Marketing/trade, Use/consumption |
| Affected actors | Picker/harvester/hunter, Producer/beekeeper, Consumer, Retailer |
| Products | Honey and Bee products |
| Subject | Edible NWFP |
| Promoter/initiator | Public/private |
| Zone | South East Europe |
| Countries | Slovenia |
| Regions (NUTS 2) | Western Slovenia |
| Focus on NWFP | Direct |
| Instrument type | Regulatory, Information |
| Legal status | Non-binding |
| Geographical scope | National |