PDO Products are products with a Protected Designation of Origin. This designation does not certify the quality of these products but their connection to a specific place and/or tradition.

The main steps and criteria are:

• defined geographical boundaries with regard to their production and packaging procedure
• product specifications regarding their physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics

On the basis of the above, 3 types of honey have been PDO-certified by the competent greek bodies:

PDO GREEK HONEYS

In Greece, there are honey varieties with Protected Designation of Origin:

1. Mainalo Vanilla Fir Honey (1996)
2. Cretan Pine-Thyme Honey (2017)
3. Kissouri Honey (2024)

Recognized within the EU

ORGANIC HONEY

When we talk about organic honey in Greece, we usually refer to the majority of the greek honey for two main reasons:

• Greek honey comes from wild plants, not cultivated crops.
• The honey harvesting process follows an ancient method, with no interventions.
• The product is free from chemicals.

Therefore, in Greece, the majority of the honey produced and distributed is organic because the beekeeping practices followed and most of the pastures meet the requirements of organic beekeeping, as confirmed by physicochemical analyses. The main difference between organic and non-organic honey in Greece is primarily whether the honey has been officially certified as organic or not.

In Greece, “organic honey” does not refer to a specific variety, but to a method of production certified according to strict European and national regulations.

Main Requirements:

• A 3-kilometre radius of wild vegetation or organic crops
• Adequate distance from pollutants
• Hives must be made of natural materials
• Use of chemical treatments or antibiotics is prohibited
• Bees are fed with their own honey