The Good, The Bad, and The Sticky:
Syrups and Honey
2012 Customs Brokers & Forwarders
Association Seminar
Commodity Team 776
Port of San Francisco
Customs And Border Protection
OVERVIEW
Various Types of Syrups and Blends
containing Fructose, Glucose and
Maltose
 Scope/Latest Update on Honey and
Syrup Blends from China
 What information to ask from 1st time
honey/syrup importers
Q & A

Headings

1702-Other sugars, including
chemically pure lactose, maltose,
glucose and fructose, in solid form;
sugar syrups not containing added
flavoring or coloring matter;

1702.11-Lactose Syrup

1702.20-Maple Syrup
Headings (cont.)
1702.30-Glucose Syrup (No Fructose
or contains <20% in dry state)
 1702.40-Glucose Syrup (Contains 2049% Fructose in dry state)
 1702.60-Fructose Syrup (>50%
Fructose)
 1702.90-Other
 Most are subject
to Quota

What about Brown Rice Syrups?
Brown Rice Syrup usually
contains maltose, which will
put it under 1702.90.9000 as
“other sugar and sugar syrup
blends: other”
 Important to ask the importer
for ingredient list to
determine correct HTS code
for the syrups.

Honey/Syrup Blends
More than 50% natural honey--the
blend should be classified as honey
(0409.00).
 Less than 50% natural honey--the
blend should be classified as syrups.
 HTS codes will be determined by % of
fructose, glucose and maltose in the
syrups.
 Importer must provide percentage of
honey vs syrup to properly classify it.

Honey/Rice Syrup Blends from
China
One of the ways for importers to
circumvent antidumping duties.
 The merchandise is either honey or
have some honey drums mixed in with
syrup drums in the shipment (to be
blended later domestically).
 Previously subject to Antidumping
Duties (A570-863) if honey is >50%.

SCOPE SUMMARY UPDATE
Effective June 21, 2012
 FR V.77, No. 120
 ALL honey/syrup blends from
China, regardless of the
percentage of honey they contain,
are now within scope and subject
to anti-dumping duty
of $2.63/kg.

Things to ask from First
Time/Suspicious Importers
All documents/paperwork in English.
 Process flowchart, Certificate of
Analysis, and Specification Sheet.
 Be extra careful with first time
importers having large and/or
multiple honey/syrup shipments
within a short period of time.

CBP Requests and Actions





Suspicious shipments will be sampled and
tested.
Single Entry Bond Requirements (usually at 3
times the value) before shipment is released.
Shipments will be re-exported if no SEB.
Purchase Orders and Proof of Payment.
Beekeeper Records and Transportation
Records.
CBP Requests and Actions (cont.)




Invoices for the containers (Drums, Barrels).
Correspondences (emails, etc.) between
Seller and Buyer.
Domestic Buyer Information.
If the syrup contains honey with Chinese
origin, then importer must pay ADD in cash
before release or have it re-exported to
original country of export.
Questions?