Importing Honey into the USA: Why US Brands Trust Midlands Apiaries

TL;DR:

• Importing honey into the USA requires FDA facility registration, accurate documentation and verified quality testing.
• Midlands Apiaries streamlines the process with FDA registration, Secure Exports Scheme (SES) membership, an SQF certified facility and an in-house export team.
• Mānuka honey is tested against New Zealand's government Mānuka definition and certified under UMF™, with independent residue and contaminant testing.
• For B2B buyers, an experienced bulk honey supplier reduces delays, supports compliance and keeps large-scale supply chains reliable.

Midlands Apiaries is a New Zealand honey producer and exporter based in Ashburton. We supply bulk and private label Mānuka honey to brands in the United States.

For businesses relying on bulk honey or private label honey products, even small supply chain interruptions or quality issues can hurt both timelines and bottom lines. In the United States food industry, having a reliable supplier who knows the market is essential, especially for large businesses where consistency and quality are everything.

This is where Midlands comes in.

We deliver private label honey and manage the import process for our customers, whether you're buying a finished product or a bulk ingredient.

We understand the risk of receiving low-quality or non-compliant honey. With years of experience working with global brands, we know how to handle the complexities of large-scale supply. Plus, as an FDA-registered supplier, every honey shipment you order is produced and packed in a facility registered to export food to the US.

Here, we explain how to import honey into the USA, and how we make the process smooth and reliable for our customers.

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How to Import Honey into the USA Safely

To import honey into the USA, the honey must come from an FDA-registered food facility. It also needs to be correctly classified for customs (jarred Mānuka honey is HS code 0409.00.00) and arrive with accurate entry documents and test results. Working with an exporter who manages registrations and documents reduces the risk of border delays.

The main steps are:

• Confirm your supplier is FDA registered. The facility producing and packing the honey must hold an FDA food facility registration.
• Agree on product specifications and testing. Set the grade, format and test requirements, and make sure you'll receive a Certificate of Analysis before shipment.
• Classify the product for customs. Jarred Mānuka honey is HS code 0409.00.00, and tariffs apply.
• Prepare import documents. Entry documents, freight and test invoices, and importer records must match the shipment.
• Clear customs and take delivery.

FDA Registration

Our facility is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as required for any facility exporting food to the US.

For American buyers, sourcing honey from an FDA-registered supplier is the starting point for a compliant import. It reduces the risk of regulatory delays that could disrupt product launches or affect sales.

Secure Exports Scheme

Midlands Apiaries is also part of New Zealand Customs' Secure Exports Scheme (SES). This supply chain security programme is recognised by partner countries, including the United States, to reduce delays at the border.

Because our products are packed, stored and transported under a secure supply chain, there's a lower risk of your bulk honey or private label product being held up at customs. That also means fewer of the hidden costs those delays bring.

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Mānuka Honey Testing and Certification

From the moment the honey is sourced to final delivery, we conduct testing and quality checks at every stage. Our Mānuka honey goes through two separate tests, both carried out by internationally accredited independent laboratories.

MPI Mānuka Honey Definition

The first is the New Zealand Government's scientific definition for Mānuka honey, set by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). It uses four chemical markers and Mānuka pollen DNA to confirm whether honey is monofloral or multifloral Mānuka.

UMF™ Certification

The second is UMF™ certification. This is widely considered to be the gold standard of Mānuka honey grading. Midlands Apiaries holds a UMF Honey Association (UMFHA) licence to grade and market Mānuka honey under the UMF™ quality mark, and UMF™ certificates are issued for individual products.

UMF™ testing confirms the honey is genuine Mānuka and verifies its grade by testing four markers:

• Methylglyoxal (MGO): a naturally occurring compound, and the main measure behind the grade
• Leptosperin: a compound found in Mānuka nectar
• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA): the natural precursor to MGO
• Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF): an indicator of heat treatment and ageing

For private label customers, the UMF™ mark can only appear on a label when the brand holds its own UMFHA licence, so most private label products show the MGO grade instead. The honey is still packed to UMF™ standards, and full test results are sent before every shipment.

Find out how we test in our laboratory, or read about the different Mānuka honey certification methods.

Residue and Contaminant Testing

Our honey is certified glyphosate residue free. It's also tested to be free from GMOs, antibiotics, phthalates, irradiation, nanoparticles and residual solvents. We take pride in delivering honey that is never adulterated and always exactly what it claims to be.

Every batch is tested and verified during production, both in our in-house laboratory and at independent accredited laboratories. Certificates of Analysis confirm the product meets its specification, as well as customer and market requirements.

Whether you're buying bulk honey or developing a private label product, you'll receive full testing documents before your shipment leaves New Zealand. Testing is done twice: once when the honey is first produced, and again when your batch is ordered.

You can learn more about our honey quality assurance and certifications.

Food Safety Certifications

Our processing facility is independently audited against international food safety standards and New Zealand's legal requirements for processing honey. It is SQF certified and re-audited every year, with a 99% audit result over the past five years. HACCP and GMP are audited alongside SQF. Our MPI Risk Management Programme (RMP) is audited every year, with quarterly load-out audits. Midlands Apiaries is also Sedex SMETA audited and a member of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre (NZFSSRC).

Halal (FIANZ and NZIDT) and Kosher (with Orthodox Union certification for selected US products) certifications are available for some products. Copies of current certificates are available on request.

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Honey Import Documentation and Logistics

Let us handle the documentation and shipping logistics, so you can focus on growing your brand.

Incomplete or incorrect paperwork is one of the most common causes of import delays. Our in-house export team has refined its systems so every required document is prepared and checked before your shipment leaves.

Whether it's US Customs entry documents, test and freight invoices, importer records or other paperwork, the Midlands Apiaries team walks buyers through the process step by step

We check and double-check every order, so you receive exactly what you ordered, when you need it. If a documentation issue does come up, the export team corrects the documents quickly. They then work with the delivery teams to either return and re-send the shipment or adjust the export process.

Communication matters just as much as the paperwork. As Business Development Manager Nick Kerr explains, customers are kept in the loop at every step:

"We're typically really responsive and the sales desk does a great job of providing all the documents and timing them through the shipping and testing process," he said.

With a dedicated in-house export team, we take care of the work from paperwork to port clearance.

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Exporting Honey to the USA with Midlands Apiaries

Regulatory hold-ups or low-quality product can delay a launch and damage your reputation. Midlands Apiaries is set up to reduce both risks.

Whether you're working out how to export honey to the USA from New Zealand or how to import it for your brand, we make the process as simple and efficient as possible.

Our understanding of US requirements and the work of https://www.midlandsnz.com/honey/honey-resources/how-midlands-takes-the-stress-out-of-importing-your-honey mean paperwork, border clearance and quality assurance are managed for you.

Our understanding of US requirements and the work of our in-house export team, mean paperwork, border clearance and quality assurance are managed for you.

US brands buying from Midlands Apiaries receive certified, fully tested New Zealand honey, with a supply chain built to run without interruption. If you're ready to secure a reliable honey supply, talk to our North America team about bulk and private label options.