Real Mead: Frequently Asked Questions
Q) What is the Real Mead Certification?
A) The Real Mead Certification is an industry standard label created and managed by the European Mead Makers Association. It was developed in response to a dire need on the part of artisanal mazers, to differentiate themselves from competition using false marketing and/or false honeys. The goal of this label is to bring consumer confidence to a product that lacks governmental or other support in protecting an ancient tradition and fledgling industry.
Q) Who can apply for the Real Mead Certification?
A) The Real Mead Certification Program is open to a wide range of applicants within the mead-making community, including mead makers, fermentation professionals, and beekeepers who are directly involved in the production of mead ingredients. For the moment, applicants must be based in Europe.
Q) How does the Real Mead Certification process work?
A) Applicants will fill out two documents, a basic registration document and a Real Mead Pledge. The registration document asks details about process and ingredients that will be kept confidential during and after the process. Several applicant categories exist, covering everything from single meads or honeys to whole meaderies and apiaries. This allows the possibility for non-mead specific producers, such as a brewery, to apply and receive the label. The pledge, which reinforces the commitment to the guiding principles of this certification, is signed at the time of application, and both it and the registration form are sent in for verification, along with supporting documents such as honey bills of sale or hive declarations. Once the check is complete, the applicant will receive confirmation and a link for payment. They then receive a logo vector to use for 2 years on the labels of their certified meads.
Q) Where does the money from the certification go?
A) All proceeds will be used by the European Mead Makers Association to develop communications and events to promote artisanal mead making in Europe.
Q) Is there a list I can consult to see who has Real Mead Certification?
A) Yes, all certified mead makers and beekeepers will be listed, along with contact details, on the EMMA website.
Q) What happens if the label is misused?
A) As the label is a trademarked logo, the European Mead Makers Association reserves the right to bring legal proceedings against anyone found to be using the label without permission, or falsifies their application.
Q) What is the long-term goal of the certification?
A) While ambitious, we hope that the label can become more than a mark of quality, and actually help fortify confidence in all aspects of the beekeeping industry for consumers. The aim of the Real Mead Certification has not only roots in the artisanal production of the world’s oldest beverage, but also in the ecological impact and relation to nature that humans have with pollinators. Creating understanding in this sense, of the true value of honey and honey products, helps to strengthen awareness of the factors at play in world that is becoming more and more based on words than actions, and will boost the connection we have to the sources of what we consume.