#London #UK #Intertek #True Source #Honey Certification

Intertek's Major Role in Honey Certification

Intertek, a global leader in quality assurance services, has recently been announced as the sole certification body for the "True Source Certified Program" by True Source Honey. This prestigious program aims to ensure transparency and authenticity within the honey supply chain, which is increasingly important amid growing global concerns about food integrity and traceability.

Overview of the True Source Certified Program

Founded in 2010, the True Source Certified Program has established itself as a vital international certification system for honey. With over 750 participating companies globally, including beekeepers, importers, exporters, and packers, the program currently certifies about 40% of honey sold in the United States and Canada. This certification not only verifies the purity of honey but also demonstrates its traceability through the supply chain, addressing growing consumer demands for transparency regarding food origins and authenticity.

Rising Demand for Food Integrity and Traceability

The complexity of global food supply chains has escalated consumer expectations for transparency. In recent years, instances of food fraud, particularly in the honey market — including sugar adulteration and false origin claims — have raised significant concerns. Regulatory bodies, retailers, and consumers alike are increasingly demanding proof of origin and distribution history for food products. In this context, the True Source Certified Program plays a pivotal role by combining auditing, traceability, and authenticity testing methods to validate honey's origins and quality, fortifying consumer trust in its authenticity.

Strengthening Global Certification with Intertek

By being appointed as the sole certification body, Intertek will provide unified auditing, inspection, and certification services globally. This appointment enables Intertek to streamline the program, ensuring efficient implementation across various regions and enhancing operational efficiency for certified companies. Throughout its partnership with the True Source Certified Program since its inception in 2011, Intertek has actively contributed to the enhancement of food safety and quality assurance in the honey market. Developments in their unique "HoneyTrace Hive to Jar Traceability Solution" further support increased transparency and risk mitigation in the honey supply chain.

Olivier Coppey, President of Intertek's Food Services Division, commented on this achievement, stating, "The appointment as the sole certification body enhances over a decade of collaboration aimed at improving the global honey supply chain's integrity. By combining consistent global services with advanced traceability solutions, we will contribute to transparency, compliance, and reliability from beekeeping to product delivery."

In addition, Tomosuke Kimura, Representative Director of Intertek Japan Group, acknowledged the growing importance of transparency and authenticity in food supply chains within the Japanese market. He expressed enthusiasm for the expanded role of Intertek in the True Source Certified Program, highlighting the potential to provide advanced traceability and quality assurance services to clients in Japan, thereby enhancing credibility in the global market.

Conclusion

As Intertek steps into this pivotal role, it sets a new standard for honey certification while reaffirming its commitment to sustaining high food safety standards globally. The True Source Certified Program, with Intertek's backing, strives to combat fraud and enhance the reliability of honey within the food supply chain, making it a beacon of quality assurance in the industry.

For more details about the True Source Certified Program and Intertek's initiatives, visit their official website or follow them on their social media platforms.