MEMBER REPORTING

Domestic and Import Assessments Collected


Who Reports and Pays Assessments to the National Honey Board?
Each first handler shall pay an assessment to the Board at the rate of $0.015 per pound of domestically produced honey or honey products the first handler handles. A producer shall pay the Board the assessment on all honey or honey products for which the producer is the first handler.


Each first handler responsible for remitting assessments to the Board shall remit the amounts due to the Board’s office on a monthly basis no later than the 15th day of the month following the month in which the honey or honey products were handled.


Each importer shall pay an assessment to the Board at the rate of $0.015 per pound of honey or honey products the importer imports into the United States. An importer shall pay the assessment to the Board through the United States Customs Service (Customs) when the honey or honey products being assessed enters the United States. If Customs does not collect an assessment from an importer, the importer is responsible for paying the assessment to the Board.


Failure to Remit Assessment to the National Honey Board
First handlers or importers who fail to remit total assessments in a timely manner may also be subject to actions under federal debt collection procedures.


Exemption from Paying Assessments to the National Honey Board
A first handler who handles less than 250,000 pounds of honey or honey products per calendar year or an importer who imports less than 250,000 pounds of honey or honey products per calendar year is exempt from paying assessments.


A first handler or importer desiring an exemption shall apply to the Board, on a form provided by the Board (upon request, see link below), for a certificate of exemption. A first handler shall certify that the first handler will handle less than 250,000 pounds of honey and honey products for the calendar year for which the exemption is claimed. An importer shall certify that the importer will import less than 250,000 pounds of honey and honey products during the calendar year for which the exemption is claimed.


Application for a Certificate of Exemption


Upon receipt of an application, the Board shall determine whether an exemption may be granted. The Board will then issue if deemed appropriate, a certificate of exemption to each person who is eligible to receive one. It is the responsibility of these persons to retain a copy of the certificate of exemption.


If a person has been exempt from paying assessments for any calendar year and no longer meets the requirements for an exemption, the person shall file a report with the Board and begin to pay the assessment on all honey or honey products handled or imported.


Any person who desires an exemption from assessments for a subsequent calendar year shall reapply to the Board, on a form provided by the Board, for a certificate of exemption.


Completing Reports to the National Honey Board
*Only first handler purchases/handling of domestic honey or honey products with the assessment should be reported to the National Honey Board.


**A first handler who handles less than 250,000 pounds of honey or honey products per calendar year is exempt from paying assessments. A first handler desiring an exemption shall apply to the Board for a certificate of exemption.


First handlers of domestic honey:


Reporting Form

  1. Complete the handler’s information section of the First Handler’s Report (for Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order – OMB No. 0581-0247).
  2. “Period covered by this report” is the month in which the honey purchases were made (this is the only place on the form to indicate for which month the report is being submitted).
  3. Complete Section 1: #1 with total pounds of your own production handled during the reporting period and #2 with the total pounds of domestic honey or honey products purchased as a first handler during the reporting period. Please list the name and address of each producer along with the corresponding pounds purchased from each producer. Total the pounds from #1 and #2 and enter that number where indicated. Calculate the assessment due at $0.015 per pound. Date and sign the report and submit the report and assessment due to the National Honey Board by the 15th of the month following the honey and honey product purchase or handling.
  4. Submit reports and assessments to:


National Honey Board
P.O. BOX 780
Erie, CO 80516


or email to [email protected]


Retain a clean copy of the First Handler’s Report and duplicate as needed to submit the required monthly reports. If during a month you did not purchase any domestic honey and honey products or handle any of your own production, you may mail, fax, email, or phone a “no activity” report.


To request reimbursement of assessments collected by the U.S. Customs Service or paid by first handlers on honey and honey products that should have been exempted but were paid to the National Honey Board, complete the Application for Reimbursement of Assessment form and return to the National Honey Board within 90 days of the period of the exemption.


If you have any questions regarding reporting to the National Honey Board, please feel free to call Missy Boone at (303) 776-2337 or email [email protected]