Natural Honey

Natural honey is one of the most granularly subdivided agricultural commodities in the US tariff schedule, with eight 10-digit lines under 040900 distinguishing certified organic, comb honey packaged for retail, and bulk honey by color grade — white (0409000035), extra-light amber (0409000045), light amber (0409000056), and amber/dark (0409000065). Color grading directly affects pricing and end-use: white and extra-light amber grades command premiums in retail and specialty food channels, while darker grades are common in industrial baking and brewing. India leads US honey imports, followed by Argentina and Brazil, and antidumping measures have historically applied to honey from certain origins, making country-of-origin documentation a compliance priority. FDA regulates honey as a food, and CBP has heightened scrutiny on honey for transshipment and adulteration.