Intertek Selected as Sole Certification Body for Global Honey Certification 'True Source Certified Program'

Intertek, a provider of Total Quality Assurance services in over 100 countries, announced its selection as the sole certification body for the 'True Source Certified' program, an international certification system operated by the non-profit organization True Source Honey.

The True Source Certified program, established in 2010, aims to ensure transparency and authenticity across the entire honey supply chain. Currently, over 750 entities including beekeepers, importers, exporters, and packers participate in the program, with approximately 40% of honey sold in the U.S. and Canada holding this certification.

In recent years, the food industry has seen growing global demand for traceability to visualize the entire supply chain, driven by concerns over food fraud risks and the labeling of origins. The honey market, in particular, faces international scrutiny regarding adulteration and origin fraud, requiring import and retail companies to undertake more advanced authenticity verification.

Having participated as a certification partner since the program's inception in 2011, Intertek will now provide standardized global audit, inspection, and certification services following this exclusive appointment. Additionally, as an authorized testing partner, Intertek will support honey authenticity verification and enhanced traceability.

Background: Rising Global Demand for 'Food Authenticity' and 'Traceability' As food supply chains become increasingly complex, demand for transparency from consumers, regulators, and retailers—such as proof of raw material origin and distribution history—is escalating.

In the honey market specifically, food fraud issues like syrup adulteration and origin deception are critical challenges, making scientific authenticity verification and consistent certification systems essential in the international market.

The True Source Certified program is widely recognized as an international certification system that verifies the purity and origin of honey by combining audits, traceability, and authenticity testing, contributing to the prevention of food fraud.

Global Standardized Certification Through Expanded Role With this exclusive appointment, Intertek will provide standardized audit and inspection services worldwide, enabling centralized and efficient program management for certified companies.

Intertek leverages its expertise in food safety, testing, and supply chain assurance, along with its proprietary solution 'HoneyTrace Hive to Jar Traceability Solution,' to support the transparency and risk reduction of complex honey supply chains.

This enhancement in the operating structure underscores True Source Honey's high trust in Intertek’s global capabilities, technical prowess, and expertise in food authenticity.

Comments Olivier Coppey, President of Intertek Food Services: 'Our appointment as the sole certification body for the True Source Certified program further develops our decade-long collaboration to improve the integrity of the global honey supply chain. By combining consistent global services with advanced traceability solutions, Intertek supports improvements in transparency, compliance, and reliability from the apiary to the jar.'

Tomoaki Kimura, Representative Director, Intertek Japan Group: 'Ensuring transparency and authenticity in the food supply chain is becoming increasingly important in the Japanese market. The expansion of Intertek's role in the True Source Certified program contributes to improved reliability in the global market, and we are pleased to provide more advanced traceability and quality assurance services to our clients in Japan. Intertek Japan Group will continue to support the construction of sustainable and reliable supply chains for the food industry.'