WASHINGTON: Honey Holding I dba Honey Solutions, a leading processor of industrial honey, recently received a Tier II C-TPAT validation of its global food supply chain from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“U.S. Customs”). U.S. Customs’ C-TPAT program is designed to provide maximum protection for global supply chains and enhance U.S. border cooperation between U.S. Customs and businesses involved in import handling and shipping. The Tier II level is reserved for those importers that have been certified and successfully validated by CBP. Honey Solutions is the first U.S. honey importer and producer to have achieved this notable food security designation from U.S. Customs. In her letter of validation to Honey Solutions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of C-TPAT, Liz Schmelzinger, noted that the company had effectively adapted “a system of checks, balances, accountability, consistency, and continuity that ensure security measures are carried out effectively throughout the international supply chain.” Honey Solutions supply chain permits its honey to be traced from its customers back through its supply chain to the country of origin and the beekeepers who harvested the honey.
In addition to supply chain validation, Tier II C-TPAT certification provides additional benefits that allows Honey Solutions to better serve its customers. For example, U.S. Customs takes into account Tier status when it assesses imports for security based exam. Tier II C-TPAT partners are 3.5 times less like to undergo a CBP security based exam. This benefit facilitates efficient inventory flow to Honey Solutions and ultimately its customers keeping inventory carrying costs low. Achievement of supply chain certification and validation by U.S. Customs is just part of Honey Solutions ongoing commitment to provide its industrial customers a full complement of food safe, origin affirmed honey products. Additionally, Honey Solutions maintains the highest GFSI food safety accreditation awarded by the British Retail Consortium of “AA.”
