Who has to register
Any foreign facility that packs, blends, processes, or repacks honey intended for US consumption must register with FDA under the Food Facility Registration requirements, renewed on FDA's shared biennial calendar. This covers apiaries with on-site packing operations, bulk processing and blending facilities, and any downstream repacker that handles the product before export.
Registration identifies who is producing what and where, so FDA can trace a shipment back to its source. It doesn't certify food-safety practices or verify the honey's authenticity — that's a separate obligation covered by FSVP and FDA's economically motivated adulteration enforcement program.
The US Agent
Every foreign-registered honey facility must appoint a US Agent — a person or firm physically located in the United States who acts as FDA's point of contact for that facility. This role matters more for honey than for lower-scrutiny commodities: FDA routinely contacts the US Agent when following up on a sampling assignment finding or an import alert listing.
Product codes and entry data
At the time of import, customs entry filings for honey require an FDA product code identifying the product form (raw, filtered, creamed, blended, flavored) along with the facility's registration number and declared country of origin. Honey has a documented history of transshipment through third countries to evade antidumping duties, which makes accurate origin declaration at entry especially consequential.
Registration ≠ authenticity verification
A registered facility can still ship adulterated product. Registration confirms FDA knows the facility exists; it says nothing about whether the honey in a given shipment is genuine or diluted with undeclared syrup. That verification is the importer's FSVP responsibility — see our FSVP requirements for honey guide for what the hazard analysis needs to cover.
What US importers need on file
- Confirmation the foreign facility is currently registered (registration numbers can lapse on the biennial renewal window)
- A complete FSVP hazard analysis addressing economically motivated adulteration and residue risk
- Supplier sourcing documentation supporting the declared country of origin
- Prior Notice filed and confirmed before the shipment arrives
Frequently asked
Do foreign honey packers need FDA facility registration?
Yes — any facility packing, blending, processing, or repacking honey for the US market must register and appoint a US Agent.
Does registration status affect how FDA screens a honey shipment for adulteration?
Not directly, but a facility with a prior violative finding is more likely to face heightened screening, including possible Detention Without Physical Examination under an active import alert.