Title 19 — Customs DutiesRelease 119-73

§4403 Honey transshipment

Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - TRADE FACILITATION AND TRADE ENFORCEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS › § 4403

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection must use staff and resources to stop honey that is imported in ways that break U.S. customs and trade rules. They must create a database of physical and chemical traits of honey from other countries to help check where honey really comes from. They must try to work with foreign customs agencies, talk with the honey industry about ID standards, and consult with the head of the Food and Drug Administration. Within 180 days after February 24, 2016, the CBP head must send Congress a report that explains what limits labs now have for finding a honey’s country of origin or how much real honey is in a sample, and give any ideas to improve those lab abilities. Congress also says the FDA should quickly set a national identity standard for honey so CBP can place imports in the right duty categories and refuse entry if the honey could harm consumers.

Full Legal Text

Title 19, §4403

Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Commissioner shall direct appropriate personnel and the use of resources of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to address concerns that honey is being imported into the United States in violation of the customs and trade laws of the United States.

(b)(1)The Commissioner shall compile a database of the individual characteristics of honey produced in foreign countries to facilitate the verification of country of origin markings of imported honey.

(2)The Commissioner shall seek to engage the customs agencies of foreign governments for assistance in compiling the database described in paragraph (1).

(3)In compiling the database described in paragraph (1), the Commissioner shall consult with entities in the honey industry regarding the development of industry standards for honey identification.

(4)In compiling the database described in paragraph (1), the Commissioner shall consult with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

(c)Not later than 180 days after February 24, 2016, the Commissioner shall submit to Congress a report that—

(1)describes and assesses the limitations in the existing analysis capabilities of laboratories with respect to determining the country of origin of honey samples or the percentage of honey contained in a sample; and

(2)includes any recommendations of the Commissioner for improving such capabilities.

(d)It is the sense of Congress that the Commissioner of Food and Drugs should promptly establish a national standard of identity for honey for the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use to ensure that imports of honey are—

(1)classified accurately for purposes of assessing duties; and

(2)denied entry into the United States if such imports pose a threat to the health or safety of consumers in the United States.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

19 U.S.C. § 4403

Title 19 — Customs Duties

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73