New Zealand Apitherapy Firm Moves to Protect Use of ‘Manuka’ in EU

Moves Made To Safeguard 'Manuka' Name
Scoop Independent News, 4/13/2006

An application has been made to secure the 'manuka' name after concerns were raised by manuka honey exporters that the word 'manuka' was legally unprotected in Europe and could fall into the wrong hands…

According to Sue Irwin Ironside, partner at intellectual property lawyers Baldwins, while manuka as a word would be exceptionally difficult to protect in New Zealand as it is in general use, that is not the case in other countries.

"In Europe, for example, manuka would be an uncommon name and could be registered by a company that is unconnected to New Zealand – even though manuka is exclusive to New Zealand."

When the vulnerability of the name was noted by natural health products company Comvita, it immediately applied to register the name 'manuka' in the European Union as a precautionary move.

Comvita chief executive Brett Hewlett says after seeing that other interests have registered or tried to register 'manuka' elsewhere in the world we decided to move quickly.

"It's important to ensure that registrations for manuka don't fall into the wrong hands as that could result in legitimate exporters being sued for trademark infringement."

National Beekeepers Association executive officer Jim Edwards says he is pleased to see moves are being made to protect the name for manuka products on behalf of all New Zealand beekeepers…

Hewlett is clear about the intention: "It is not, and never will be, Comvita's intention to obstruct any New Zealand-owned manuka product brands from selling in the EU. Healthy competition in such a vast market can only serve to continue to build credibility for the therapeutic properties of our unique and indigenous manuka honey."