News — Manuka trademark

Leading UK honey business – Rowse – has reportedly instructed its lawyers to oppose New Zealand’s attempt to trademark manuka honey. UK trademark authorities initially agreed to the NZ trademark claim back in 2017. However other countries, including the US, China and Australia all knocked back the request. The UK decision was also quickly appealed by Australia's Manuka Honey Association and so has never been finalised. More recently, New Zealand has renewed its push for a global monopoly, starting with an attempt to get local authorities to grant the trademark within NZ. [The move is largely legal manoeuvring, and unlike...