Ethiopia Celebrates First Organic Honey Certification under New EU Regulation

Addis Ababa, 05 August 2025 - Ethiopia has achieved a major breakthrough in sustainable trade with the certification of its first organic honey under the European Union’s updated Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products. The certification was awarded to the Gabar Duma Farmers’ Multi-Service Cooperative Society, located in Dima Village, Oromia Region, through support from the Global Market Access Programme (GMAP) in Ethiopia—an initiative implemented by UNIDO and funded by Norway.

The certification is not just a formal endorsement of product purity; it symbolizes Ethiopia’s growing capability to meet stringent international standards, particularly those of the European Union, one of the world’s most discerning markets for organic products.

Supported by GMAP, the cooperative underwent a comprehensive transformation process. Technical assistance and training on organic standards, documentation, and quality assurance enabled members to align traditional methods with modern practices to ensure compliance with international norms. A practical, paper-based traceability system was introduced to monitor honey from hive to jar, tailored to the cooperative’s local capacities. This approach not only builds trust but also meets the growing global call for transparent, value-added supply chains.

"This is more than a certificate — it’s a signal of Ethiopia’s readiness to embrace sustainable trade and empower rural producers,” said Jony Girma, General Manager of GreenFace plc. one of the biggest honey exporters in Ethiopia.

Organic certification is a key step toward sustainable production, competitive export, and inclusive growth. It promotes environmentally friendly practices that protect biodiversity and forest ecosystems while creating higher-income opportunities for smallholder beekeepers.

This success provides a scalable model for other cooperatives in Ethiopia, demonstrating that with targeted support and effective partnerships, smallholder producers can access premium organic markets and become active players in the global green economy.

For more information please contact:

Cong Wu

UNIDO Industrial Development Officer

c.wu [at] unido.org (Email)