About Us
We invite consumers, honey companies, food manufacturers and others to take action and purchase only honey that is legally and ethically sourced.
Stay informed of program and industry updates
- Honey Lovers (Consumers)
- Honey Companies or Packers
- Honey Business Customers (Wholesalers, Retailers, Food Manufacturers, Food Service Brokers and Importers)
If you're a Consumer:
- Write to the company or retailer that sells your favorite honey and ask them:
- I want to be sure the honey I enjoy comes from reliable, quality sources.
- It's important to me that honey is sourced in a legal, ethical way.
- It's important to me that the U.S. honey industry stays vibrant and that U.S. beekeepers do not continue to be threatened by illegally sourced honey.
- Please reassure me that you're a supporter of True Source Honey, LLC.
- Customize this letter, which you can copy and paste into an email or mail-able letter.
- Write to the company that sells the cereal, cookies, beverages or other products you enjoy with honey to ask if they're part of True Source Honey, LLC. Tell them:
- I want to be sure the (insert product) I enjoy uses honey that comes from reliable, quality sources.
- It's important to me that honey is sourced in a legal, ethical way.
- It's important to me that the U.S. honey industry stays vibrant and that U.S. beekeepers do not continue to be threatened by illegally sourced honey.
- Please reassure me that you buy honey from sources that support True Source Honey, LLC.
- Customize this letter, which you can copy and paste into an email or mail-able letter.
- Buy only honey that you know is ethically sourced.
- Tell friends and family about www.truesourcehoney.com.
- Donate to the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, which researches Colony Collapse Disorder, the widespread death of honey bee colonies that poses a serious risk to our natural food supply. Did you know that about one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, and honey bees are responsible for 80 percent of this pollination?1
If you're a Honey Company/Packer:
- Follow the guidelines in the True Source Honey pledge. Make sure you are familiar with your supply chain all the way back to the hive, and that your honey is sourced ethically and legally.
- Follow the tips listed in this quick reference guide to guard against buying Chinese transshipped honey.
- Ask the importer for a copy of customs form 3461 on which you will see:
- Country of origin declared to U.S. customs
- H.S. code – natural honey should be 0409.00.00
- Ask for a certificate of origin. In some countries it is a meaningless paper, but in some others, like Vietnam, it is difficult to get without taking the proper steps.
- If you’re buying from an importer, ask them to sign a declaration and a country of origin affidavit, in addition to the certificate of origin.
- Quality Services International
Flughafendamm 9a
Bremen, D-28199 Br D-28199
Germany
(49)42 15 08 044
beckh@qsi-q3.de
http://www.qsi-q3.de/ - Applica (Intertek Food Services GmbH)
Olof - Palme Str. 8
Bremen, 28719
Germany
(49)421 65 727 311
barbara.blankenship@intertek.com
http://www.applica-analytik.de/ - Visit the Vietnam Beekeepers Association web site to make sure that the Vietnam exporter is a member: http://www.vba.org.vn
- Ask for the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (VCCI) Certificate of Origin Form B. A signed Form B alone guarantees that the honey is produced in Vietnam and can be retroactively issued. Be wary of false certification documents like this one, which mislead buyers and do not guarantee the honey is produced in Vietnam.
- Note that the only grade of honey available from Vietnam is Light Amber.
- All exports to the U.S. from India should be from units that are EIC (Export Inspection Agency) approved, which is only a minimum requirement and not proof that the exporter has sourced the honey in an ethical manner. The list with updates can be seen at: http://www.eicindia.org/eic/appvdunits-honey-main.htm. If the export is through a trader in India, it is more than likely that it may be a questionable shipment, in terms of either origin or quality.
- Indonesia: http://www.bi.go.id/sipuk/en/?id=4&no=30601&idrb=43101
- Taiwan: http://eng.coa.gov.tw/htmlarea_file/web_articles/5845/126.xls
- Thailand: Expensive specialty honey
- Malaysia: http://www.new-ag.info/99-3/focuson/focuson5.html
- Mongolia
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Ask the importer for a copy of customs form 3461 to determine the country of origin declared to U.S. customs and to confirm that the H.S. code is 0409.00.00.
- To report suspicious offers/honey shipments, go to the allegations page of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The report can be anonymous.
- Let us know your thoughts on our True Source Honey Certification Program.
Tips to Guard Against Buying Chinese Transshipped Honey
If you are a Honey Packer or Importer:
Documents
Laboratories
The following labs are known worldwide for their expertise in honey analysis. Among other tests, they perform a country-of-origin test using pollen analysis and organoleptical analysis.
Taste and Appearance
Chinese honey used to have a typical taste. In recent years many in the industry have noticed that the country’s ‘’product’’ sold as honey has no taste, no particular smell and is often light in color.
If you are buying from a foreign exporter:
Know your supply chain. In a tight honey supply situation, like the one we’re in now, conditions are not ideal for the creation of a new export honey company. Have you visited the foreign exporter’s plant? Are there any food safety audits? How long has the exporter been in business? Ask for references. Is the foreign supplier a member of a known association in its country?
Vietnam: Vietnam Beekeepers Association (VBA)
India: Export Inspection Agency (EIC)
Also, know that there is no legitimate exporter located in a free port zone. Many of the fraudulent exporters are located in a free trade zone in order to import Chinese honey without customs clearance. They re-export it, changing the country-of-origin from China to the country from where the shipment takes place.
If you are buying from an importer:
How long has the importer been in business? Ask for references. Ask the importer if they have checked all of the above.
Production in the Declared Country-Of-Origin
Be suspicious when honey is said to be produced in Asian countries or if the price is incredibly competitive. Recent arrests of importers who fraudulently imported Chinese honey declared it to be from Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea. We have consulted experienced importers in the U.S., and none of them believe that there is a commercial export honey industry from the following countries.
Other Tips:
If you have other tips on how to become a wiser buyer who performs due diligence in buying decisions, please communicate them to the National Honey Packers and Dealers Association at http://afi.mytradeassociation.org/ or send an email to info@truesourcehoney.com.
If you're a Honey Business Customer such as a Wholesaler, Retailer, Food Manufacturer, Foodservice Broker or Importer:
- Ask your supplier how the honey was harvested, including where the beekeepers are based and what practices they use.
- Find out all you can about the source of the honey you buy; if you're not sure of the source, don't buy the honey.
- Follow the tips listed in this quick reference guide to guard against buying Chinese transshipped honey.
- Ask the importer for a copy of customs form 3461 on which you will see:
- Country of origin declared to U.S. customs
- H.S. code – natural honey should be 0409.00.00
- Ask for a certificate of origin. In some countries it is a meaningless paper, but in some others, like Vietnam, it is difficult to get without taking the proper steps.
- If you’re buying from an importer, ask them to sign a declaration and a country of origin affidavit, in addition to the certificate of origin.
- Quality Services International
Flughafendamm 9a
Bremen, D-28199 Br D-28199
Germany
(49)42 15 08 044
beckh@qsi-q3.de
http://www.qsi-q3.de/ - Applica (Intertek Food Services GmbH)
Olof - Palme Str. 8
Bremen, 28719
Germany
(49)421 65 727 311
barbara.blankenship@intertek.com
http://www.applica-analytik.de/ - Visit the Vietnam Beekeepers Association web site to make sure that the Vietnam exporter is a member: http://www.vba.org.vn
- Ask for the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (VCCI) Certificate of Origin Form B. A signed Form B alone guarantees that the honey is produced in Vietnam and can be retroactively issued. Be wary of false certification documents like this one, which mislead buyers and do not guarantee the honey is produced in Vietnam.
- Note that the only grade of honey available from Vietnam is Light Amber.
- All exports to the U.S. from India should be from units that are EIC (Export Inspection Agency) approved, which is only a minimum requirement and not proof that the exporter has sourced the honey in an ethical manner. The list with updates can be seen at: http://www.eicindia.org/eic/appvdunits-honey-main.htm. If the export is through a trader in India, it is more than likely that it may be a questionable shipment, in terms of either origin or quality.
- Indonesia: http://www.bi.go.id/sipuk/en/?id=4&no=30601&idrb=43101
- Taiwan: http://eng.coa.gov.tw/htmlarea_file/web_articles/5845/126.xls
- Thailand: Expensive specialty honey
- Malaysia: http://www.new-ag.info/99-3/focuson/focuson5.html
- Mongolia
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Ask the importer for a copy of customs form 3461 to determine the country of origin declared to U.S. customs and to confirm that the H.S. code is 0409.00.00.
- To report suspicious offers/honey shipments, go to the allegations page of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The report can be anonymous.
Tips to Guard Against Buying Chinese Transshipped Honey
If you are a Honey Packer or Importer:
Documents
Laboratories
The following labs are known worldwide for their expertise in honey analysis. Among other tests, they perform a country-of-origin test using pollen analysis and organoleptical analysis.
Taste and Appearance
Chinese honey used to have a typical taste. In recent years many in the industry have noticed that the country’s ‘’product’’ sold as honey has no taste, no particular smell and is often light in color.
If you are buying from a foreign exporter:
Know your supply chain. In a tight honey supply situation, like the one we’re in now, conditions are not ideal for the creation of a new export honey company. Have you visited the foreign exporter’s plant? Are there any food safety audits? How long has the exporter been in business? Ask for references. Is the foreign supplier a member of a known association in its country?
Vietnam: Vietnam Beekeepers Association (VBA)
India: Export Inspection Agency (EIC)
Also, know that there is no legitimate exporter located in a free port zone. Many of the fraudulent exporters are located in a free trade zone in order to import Chinese honey without customs clearance. They re-export it, changing the country-of-origin from China to the country from where the shipment takes place.
If you are buying from an importer:
How long has the importer been in business? Ask for references. Ask the importer if they have checked all of the above.
Production in the Declared Country-Of-Origin
Be suspicious when honey is said to be produced in Asian countries or if the price is incredibly competitive. Recent arrests of importers who fraudulently imported Chinese honey declared it to be from Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea. We have consulted experienced importers in the U.S., and none of them believe that there is a commercial export honey industry from the following countries.
Other Tips:
If you have other tips on how to become a wiser buyer who performs due diligence in buying decisions, please communicate them to the National Honey Packers and Dealers Association at http://afi.mytradeassociation.org/ or send an email to info@truesourcehoney.com.
Honey Fast Facts
- Per capita consumption of honey in America is 1.1 pounds per year.1
Read all Fast Facts » - In 2009, the U.S. produced only about 144 million pounds of the 382 million pounds of honey consumed.2
Read all Fast Facts » - Bee Culture magazine accurately predicted that the 2009 honey crop would be the worst on record.3
Read all Fast Facts » - To make up the difference between U.S. honey production and consumption, we rely on honey from other countries, including Canada, Argentina and Brazil, among other countries.4
Read all Fast Facts » - There are 210,000 beekeepers in the U.S.5
Read all Fast Facts » - A Penn State College of Medicine research team found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications.6
Read all Fast Facts » - Bees may travel as far as 55,000 miles and visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar to make just a pound of honey.7
Read all Fast Facts » - There are more than 300 unique kinds of honey in the United States, originating from such diverse floral sources as Clover, Eucalyptus and Orange Blossoms.8
Read all Fast Facts » - Honey is primarily composed of fructose, glucose and water. It also contains other sugars as well as trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins and amino acids.9
Read all Fast Facts » - Lighter colored honeys are mild in flavor, while darker honeys are usually more robust in flavor.10
Read all Fast Facts » - The color and flavor of honeys differ depending on the nectar source (the blossoms) visited by the honey bees. The color ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown.11
Read all Fast Facts » - Fifty percent of the population buys honey for direct consumption, while 75 percent of the population consumes honey as an ingredient in teas, breads, salad dressings and BBQ sauces, among other food items.12
Read all Fast Facts » - Almost a quarter of the 210 million pounds of honey imported by the United States was from countries who have no existing commercial honey export business.13
Read all Fast Facts »
