"Türk Çam Balı" Registered with Geographical Indication

The registration of Turkish Pine Honey with a geographical indication by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office has documented its value and represents an important step toward Turkish honey achieving the recognition it deserves worldwide.

Pine honey, a endemic honeydew honey type produced in Turkey, accounts for approximately 92% of global production and is produced by Anatolian honeybees in the red pine forests along the Aegean coast. As one of Turkey's most important bee products in terms of both production volume and commercial contribution, pine honey ranks among the leading honey varieties in exports.

Balparmak General Manager Ulaş Altıparmak commented on the geographical indication registration process of Turkish Pine Honey as follows: "In this important process led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Menemen Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, a strong collaboration model was established with the contributions of officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), who prepared the project, Prof. Dr. Sertaç Dokuzlu, Associate Professor at Bursa Uludağ University who conducted the process, the Turkey Beekeepers Central Union (TAB), and sector stakeholders. As Balparmak, Turkey's leading natural honey brand*, we are proud to have supported this process through our scientific infrastructure, R&D Center, and areas of expertise, and to have contributed to the protection of our country's valuable bee product. Since our founding, we have worked to contribute to the development of the bee products sector, support the sustainability of beekeeping, and ensure that Turkish honey achieves its deserved value in the global market. We view this approach not only as a commercial objective, but as our responsibility toward our country, nature, and all sector stakeholders. We will continue with the same determination to conduct science-based studies to increase the authenticity, reliability, and competitiveness of Turkish honey, and to produce solutions that will add long-term value to the sector."

Balparmak R&D and Quality Director Dr. Emel Damarlı stated the following in her assessment of the matter: "Turkish Pine Honey, 92% of which is produced in the red pine forests along the Aegean coast, deserves greater global recognition as a value unique to our country. As a sector stakeholder, we have long been conducting science-based studies toward this goal. The geographical indication obtained as a result of the application process conducted with multiple stakeholders in collaboration with FAO and EBRD represents a meaningful outcome of joint efforts. We are delighted to have contributed a scientific perspective to this process and to advance together with our stakeholders."