Establishing a Standardized Traceability System for the Honey value chain in Ethiopian

Ethiopia, renowned for its biodiversity and honey production potential, has faced challenges in ensuring consistent quality and safety of its honey products, particularly when targeting international markets like the European Union (EU). One of the key obstacles has been the absence of a standardized traceability system across the honey value chain to allow actors to communicate and collaborate in quality assurance. To address this, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through the Global Market Access Programme (GMAP), developed a unified traceability system in collaboration with various value chain actors,  aimed at improving quality compliance and access for Ethiopian honey to international markets.

While some honey exporters had independently implemented traceability systems for EU markets, inconsistencies across the sector led to fragmented data collection and difficulties in ensuring accurate tracking throughout the value chain. Recognizing the need for a unified approach, UNIDO worked with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Ethiopian Agriculture Authority (EAA), and the Ethiopian Apiculture Development Association (EADA), and key processors and exporters to create a comprehensive traceability framework.

The system focuses on registering beekeepers and economic operators involved in honey exports, tracking key stages such as harvesting, transportation, processing, and sales. Developed through consultative meetings and training sessions, the system aims to harmonize data collection practices and ensure greater transparency and quality assurance along the value chain.

For now, the traceability system will be implemented using paper-based forms, with plans for future digitization. This approach allows stakeholders to focus on detailed written documentation as the foundation for accurate and reliable traceability. The system will be piloted within the EU export value chain, with support from EADA, marking a significant step forward for Ethiopian honey producers aiming to meet international standards.

This new traceability system is part of a broader effort to enhance Ethiopia’s honey value chain and was published on the EADA website, making it accessible to all industry stakeholders. The system is designed to improve transparency and compliance, thereby strengthening Ethiopia’s competitiveness in global honey markets.

For more information please contact Cong WU (c.wu [at] unido.org)