Become True Source Certified

True Source Certified® is a voluntary system of origin traceability and authenticity for participants in an international supply chain who wish to demonstrate through an independent third party audit firm that their sourcing practices for honey are in full compliance with requirements of the True Source Certified® Standard.

True Source Certified® has been developed under a unique framework that encourages honest, open participation and accountability to a wider community coupled with third party oversight to validate individual performance and claims. Under this model, participants are able to maintain the integrity of the program and hold each other accountable to honest sourcing practices.

The basic responsibilities of each participant are as follows:

  • True Source Honey
    • Establish and maintain the standards for certification
  • Third Party Audit Firm 
    • Conduct audits to evaluate compliance to the Standards
    • For each load originating in a High-Risk Country, to provide oversight for container loading and random sampling of Honey drums. Assign, seal, and record the True Source Certified Seal Number.
  • North American Beekeepers
    • Produce and sell authentic honey directly from their own operation
  • Merchant Exporters
    • Follow True Source Certified Standards when purchasing and selling certified loads of honey
    • Provide status change of uncertified load to non-True Source Certified Packers/Brand Purchasers
    • Maintain a system of traceability and use the True Source Certified Seal Number for every load of honey
    • Provide the required documentation to Importers or Packers related to the export of each load
    • Never take physical possession of goods
  • Importers
    • Follow True Source Certified Standards when purchasing and selling certified loads of honey
    • Provide status change of uncertified load to non-True Source Certified Packers
    • Maintain a system of traceability and use the True Source Certified Seal Number for every load of honey
    • Provide the required documentation to Packers related to the import of each load
    • Never take physical possession of goods
  • Processor/Exporters
    • Purchase honey only produced from within their country of operation for resale/export
    • Maintain a system of traceability and use a True Source Certified Seal Number for every load of honey
    • Maintain a system to ensure honey authenticity (i.e. freedom from sugar/syrup adulteration)
    • Owns and handles honey
  • Packers/Brand Purchasers
    • Follow the True Source Standards when purchasing certified loads of honey from certified participants
    • Maintain a system of traceability and use the True Source Certified Seal Number for every load of honey excluding shipments from Canada, Mexico and the United States sources
    • Maintain a system to ensure honey authenticity (i.e. freedom from sugar/syrup adulteration)
    • Owns and handles honey