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National guidelines for Georgian Honey Producers for the Production of Safe and Quality Honey"
With the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and support of the European Union, a document "Guidelines for the production of safe and high quality honey" has been prepared to raise Georgian entrepreneurs awareness on EU standards in honey production.
The guidelines developed by German experts are based on practical experience and provides honey producers recommendations how to produce and ensure the full chain of quality honey production in Georgia which can be exported to the EU market.
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Khatia Tsilosani, EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell and Programme Director for GIZ Private Sector Development and TVET South Caucasus, Katja Kammerer attended the presentation.
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Khatia Tsilosani outlined the importance of exporting Georgian products to the EU market while addressing the audience and noted, that the Ministry is taking active measures to promote Georgian production and improve competitiveness of Georgian agricultural products, including honey.
We are glad, that close cooperation with the EU-GIZ project has led to the creation of a guideline document, which will, hopefully, assist beekeepers and honey producers in the production of high-quality products in line with the relevant standards, furthermore, the control implemented on Georgian honey products being recognized by EU will enable small and medium-sized enterprises to export honey to 500 million EU market. Compliance with EU standards will enable Georgian products to enter the markets of different countries around the world, which will significantly increase their income and promote economic development in the country ” Khatia Tsilosani said.
As the EU ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartsel, noted, the EU strongly supports the export of high quality Georgian products to the EU.
‘’I am pleased, that the long term endeavors made by Georgian honey producers to export their honey to the EU market worked out well. I believe, that this is the right way for Georgian products, especially for honey. The important challenge faced by Georgian honey producers was related to relevant standards, but challenges have already been resolved in a number of areas. I hope that the TAPLI brand and in general, Georgian honey will find its niche, the niche corner with the best delicacies and more Georgian products will be exported to the EU market ”said Carl Hartsell.
Programme Director for GIZ Private Sector Development and TVET South Caucasus, Katja Kammerer addressed the participants, noting that by preparing and presenting the Guidelines, GIZ is completing a three-year intensive work process, whereby, the EU Delegation, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, local and international experts, local honey producers are actively engaged.
‘’I’m happy, that this work brought us to the first export of Georgian premium honey to the EU. We have proven that Georgian honey can be competitive on the European market and sold at very attractive prices, I think it will be a motivation for other producers to follow this path, and as a result, we will see even more remarkable Georgian honey in Europe” noted Katja Kammerer, the Programme Director for GIZ Private Sector Development and TVET South Caucasus.
The representatives of state agencies, private and public organizations, entrepreneurs working in the beekeeping and honey production sectors attended the presentation.
The Guidelines for Safe and Quality Honey Production were developed in coordination with the Ministry of Environmental Protectiom and Agriculture of Georgia within the framework of the EU funded project ‘’Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development and DCFTA in Georgia’’. The project is being implemented by the German International Cooperation Society (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Under the Association Agreement with the European Union, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement (DCFTA) allows Georgian entrepreneurs to export honey to the 500 million European market. Considering challenges in relation with the compliance of Georgian products with the EU quality standards as well as the lack of qualified specialists in honey production, it is important to raise Georgian honey producers awareness and provide maximum information on quality production and honey export to the EU.
Within the frame of the project "Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development and DCFTA in Georgia", the work on promoting quality honey production in Georgia has been actively implementing for 3 years. Within the above mentioned project, the so-called Umbrella Brand – TAPLI was created, which aims to introduce Georgian premium quality honey to the European market. At this point, the brand brings together companies that have met all standards of quality production. This year, at the Berlin International Exhibition "Green Week", TAPLI brand has presented Georgian premium quality honey for the first time.