How Midlands Takes The Stress Out Of Importing Your Honey
18 October 2024
Importing honey can be a challenging process - especially with all of the varying documentation, certifications and shipping requirements of different countries.
The complexities of importing goods can often leave customers worried about whether the product they’ve purchased will successfully reach them; they might feel concerned over the possibility of shipping delays or the product being held up at customs.
Fortunately, Midlands has been exporting private label and bulk honey products for a long time, we understand what’s required to get products across borders in a seamless fashion. As experts in the export process - often overseeing high shipment quantities on a large scale - we aim to eliminate your stress when ordering honey from wherever you are in the world.
Our dedicated, in-house export team handles all of the day-to-day challenges that sending honey to customers presents. From documentation to certifications, Midlands has the expertise to guarantee an effortless export experience.
By taking care of every detail, Midlands ensures that orders arrive on time and in perfect condition, no matter the destination. It’s peace of mind knowing that your honey will be delivered hassle-free, when you want it and where you need it to be.
Introducing Our World-Class, In-House Exports Team
Midlands has built an in-house export team that makes shipping honey products around the world that much easier.
Our trucks travel across New Zealand collecting the finest honey, which is then moved onto our production facilities for processing and packaging. This hands-on approach means we’re able to guarantee top-notch honey and smooth logistics from start to finish.
The exports team also understands that navigating the complex maze of import & export regulations can quickly become a headache. That’s why our team stays on top of all the rules and paperwork needed to send honey worldwide.
With years of shipping experience, we can handle everything that’s thrown our way - from paperwork to passing through borders. It means you can trust your honey will reach you, no matter the country or region. From hive to jar, we’re involved every step of the way, making sure that your honey arrives safely at its destination without any nasty surprises.
Navigating Documentation Requirements For Different Countries
When it comes to importing one of Midlands’ honey products, there can often be a range of different documentation and certification requirements depending on the country it’s arriving in.
Some countries are more flexible - they require very little documentation to ensure the product passes through customs without any issues. Other countries, however, have much more stringent requirements that must be met before the product is allowed through.
Completing the correct documents can become a complex process. As explained by Teresa, one of Midlands’ logistics experts, the level of complication will often depend on the customer and the country they live in.
“Different countries have different requirements for what they need - they might require an extra packing slip with certain documentation on it,” she said.
“So, China for example, requires an FTA certificate of origin, whereas places like Japan and Taiwan don’t require an FTA - because China is part of the Free Trade Agreement and others aren’t.”
“Another one of our customers in Taiwan has very particular export requirements. But we’re always able to adapt our services to help customers from anywhere in the world - even if their documentation needs might differ to the usual requirements.”
Honey can be a complicated product to import, even the most experienced buyers will sometimes overlook key documentation and processes needed to get our products across their border.
The Midlands team specialises in walking buyers through the process step-by-step, guiding them in a way that leaves the customer feeling safe and supported.
“New customers may be unfamiliar with the process, but thankfully, the export desk knows all the requirements for each country and we’re always happy to guide them through the process.”
In many cases, the Midlands export team can offer examples of documentation for different countries, helping to give buyers an understanding of the particular border requirements that must be met, in order for the honey to be imported successfully.
The export team also handles any documentation errors that might occur.
It's crucial to get every detail 100% correct when importing products - as even a small error, like a misspelt address, can cause delays at customs. For example, a minor typo in the delivery address could result in the shipment being held up, requiring replacement documents to move forward.
Midlands places a great deal of importance on getting the small things right - in this case, checking and double checking every order to ensure that the customer will be delivered exactly what they ordered, when they ordered it for.
On the rare occasions that documentation issues occur, the Midlands team will be quick to re-do the documents, then coordinate with the teams that handle the product’s delivery to either have the shipment returned and re-sent, or have the export process altered.
“The export team is a big help for new customers,” said Teresa.
“They give customers reassurance that even if something does go wrong, we’ll be quick to fix the mistake and find a way to keep the delivery on-schedule. But at the end of the day, it’s all about getting things right the first time - that way we ensure that the delays are minimal and the export process is smooth.”
Seamless Customs Clearance With Export Schemes
Something that many customers might not know about Midlands is that it’s part of the Secure Exports Scheme (SES) - an accreditation program that is designed to build trust between companies that export products and border patrol.
This means that every Midlands product is packed, stored, and transported in full compliance with international customs standards.
It’s a huge benefit for overseas buyers, they can wait for their products to arrive knowing that there’s a largely reduced chance of their shipment being held-up by customs.
In other words, you’ll be getting your world-class private label or bulk honey orders much quicker.
“It means when the honey arrives in the country that it’s been shipped to, their customs officers will recognise our products are SES accredited and don’t need to check the container, because they’ll know that we’ve followed all the rules that need to be followed,” said Teresa.
By minimising the risk of delays, we’re ensuring that your products arrive promptly and will be ready to hit the shelves without any unnecessary hold-ups. This means you can stock your inventory faster, start selling sooner and keep your operations running smoothly.
Faster time to the market translates into quicker sales turnover, which directly supports better cash flow.
As well as quick passage through customs, SES provides additional privileges - like a secure supply chain from the point of packing to the point of export, which further advantages exporting to Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, The Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United States of America.
It also means minimal trade disruptions from changes in security levels. You can find out more about SES here.
Midlands also offers FDA registration for buyers in the United States - which ensures that all of our honey products meet the stringent requirements set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For American buyers, purchasing from an FDA-registered supplier like Midlands gives them peace of mind - it’s a way of guaranteeing they’ve purchased a honey product that meets regulatory guidelines and can smoothly enter the market without issues at customs.
By handling the FDA registration process, Midlands effectively removes a significant barrier for American customers, as it allows them to focus on getting our honey onto their shelves quickly and efficiently - without the risk of regulatory setbacks that could delay product launches or impact sales.
For buyers based in China, Midlands has GACC registration, which means it’s cleared for entry and exit inspection and quarantine, as well as a host of other technical specifications. This smoothens the transition through China’s customs and helps the product reach Chinese buyers faster.
Import Honey With Ease Thanks To Midlands’ Exports Team
When it comes to importing honey, Midlands makes the process easy and stress-free for our customers around the world.
With our wealth of experience and a dedicated, in-house exports team, we can handle the hard stuff - from paperwork to port clearance - so you get world-class honey delivered smoothly, no matter where you are.
Midlands’ commitment to quality and compliance is backed by industry-leading accreditations like the Secure Exports Scheme, FDA and GACC registrations. It means your honey will remain in safe hands, ensuring a smooth journey from production to port.
Whether you’re a seasoned importer or new to the game, Midlands is here to guide you through every step of the process. From navigating different countries’ requirements to handling issues that arise, we’ve got you covered.
You can rest easy knowing your honey will arrive quickly and seamlessly, taking the stress out of importing so that you can enjoy our premium honey products.