Importers

You can be a True Source Certified Participating Importer if you purchase honey from a Processor/Exporter and you are responsible for 1) ensuring the imported honey comply with local laws and regulations, 2) filing a completed duty entry and associated documents, and 3) paying the assessed import duties and other taxes on honey and then you sell the honey to a North American Packer.

Follow the instructions below to participate:

  1. Understand the phased implementation of requirements. In order to allow time for Packers and Importers to prepare their suppliers for the requirements of True Source certification, a phase-in period has been established that applies to the percentage of loads purchased by the Packer.
  2. Purchase honey from approved countries.
  3. Provide required documentation to the Packer for every shipment of raw honey. All documents must identify loads using the True Source ID Number for high and medium risk countries, as well as for all fully compliant loads (minimally compliant loads do not require the use of the True Source ID Number). Click on a document title below to see an example:
    1. Customs Form CBP 3461: Showing 0409.00 in box 24, Country of Origin in box 25 (must be the same as the one declared on the invoice to the Packer), Container no in box 29 (must match the number declared on the bill of lading and the invoice to the Packer).
    2. Ocean Bill of Lading: Shipper must be the processor/exporter, Importer must be Consignee or Notify party, Consignee or Notify Party must be the same as the seller to the Packer, True Source ID Number, Exporter Lot Number etc.
    3. Lab report: of Pollen-geographical origin of honey (shipments from India and Vietnam only).
    4. Country specific documents:
      1. India: Export Inspection Consult Certificate for inspection
      2. Vietnam: Certificate of origin form B
    5. Truck Bill of Lading: Must indicate container number, True Source Honey ID Number, Exporter lot number.
    6. Delivery Order: If the container is delivered directly to the Packer, Importer must supply the delivery order showing the following information: container number, both seal numbers: container seal and audit firm seal (as applicable), True Source Honey ID Number, Exporter’s lot number.
    7. Warehouse inbound receipt: If the load is picked up by the Packer or delivery arranged by the seller to the Packer the following information must appear on the warehouse receipt: Container number, container and audit firm seal number (as applicable), True Source Honey ID Number, Exporter’s lot number.
  4. Complete an Importer registration form, submit the registration fee, and maintain a current certificate of participation. Participating Importers are not audited - they only need to submit a registration form and annual fee to True Source Honey and facilitate the trade between Certified Processors/Exporters and Certified Packers according to True Source Certified Standards. The annual fee is based on the number of containers/truckloads imported into the United States per year. The current fees are below:


Please note: registering as an Importer is registering as a True Source Registered Participant. Importers are not considered True Source Certified, as Importers are not subject to the certified audit as administered by third-party auditors.