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Export Guide · Honey.tz

Exporting Honey from Tanzania

Applies to: Mainland Tanzania & Zanzibar · Reviewed 29 September 2026

Guide information

Export.tz is a commercial information service, not a government agency, regulator, or law firm. This guide explains published procedures for general orientation. Always confirm current requirements directly with the authorities linked below before you ship.

Zanzibar sourcing gap — this guide is marked “Applies to: Mainland Tanzania & Zanzibar”, but every authority cited below is Mainland-scoped and we have not independently confirmed a Zanzibar-specific process for this commodity. If you are exporting from Zanzibar, confirm requirements directly with the Zanzibar authorities before relying on this guide.

Overview

Tanzania's beekeeping sector sits under the Forestry and Beekeeping Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, with the Tanzania Forest Services Agency and Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority allocating forest/reserve land for beekeeping. Honey exports have grown sharply — cumulative exports reached roughly 1,321 tonnes worth TZS 15.85 billion by April 2025, more than triple the same period in 2024 — and Tanzania shipped its first consignment to China (10 tonnes) in December 2024 after securing market approval in August 2024. Unlike plant commodities, honey is an animal-derived product, so it does not follow the TPHPA phytosanitary pathway — see the note below.

Who Can Export

General business registration and TIN registration apply. Tanzania's official Trade Portal lists dedicated procedures for "Registration of honey and bee products dealer" and "Export of honey & other apiary products through Dar es Salaam," though their detailed document/fee requirements could not be independently confirmed against the live portal in current research.

Quality & Standards

The East African Community regional honey standard (EAS 36:2020, "Honey — Specification") is confirmed via a peer EAC standards body; Tanzania's own national adoption is commonly cited as TZS 851, though this could not be independently confirmed against a primary TBS document in current research.

Phytosanitary & Food-Safety Requirements

Honey is an animal-derived product, not a plant product — TPHPA's own published mandate (Plant Health Act No. 4 of 2020) does not list honey or apiary products among its services. Tanzania's general certification pattern for animal-origin foods (per a USDA export-certificate compliance report) routes through Veterinary Services and TMDA (food/drug regulator) rather than TPHPA, alongside TBS quality certification — but no single primary source was found stating in as many words which specific agency issues honey's export health certificate. Confirm directly with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries / Directorate of Veterinary Services before shipment.

Certificate of Origin & Rules of Origin

An ordinary or preferential TNCC (opens the official site in a new tab) Certificate of Origin may be required depending on the buyer and destination market.

Customs & Clearance

Standard TANCIS clearance via a licensed Clearing and Forwarding Agent.

Buyer Document Pack

Commercial Invoice, Packing List, sanitary/animal-health documentation (confirm current requirement and issuing agency directly), Certificate of Origin.

Step-by-Step Export Process

  1. Register as a honey/bee-products dealer

    Register your business and, per the Tanzania Trade Portal, complete the dealer-registration procedure for honey and bee products.

  2. Confirm current sanitary/health certification requirements

    Honey does not follow the plant-product phytosanitary pathway. Confirm directly with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries / Directorate of Veterinary Services and TBS which specific certification currently applies before shipment.

  3. Obtain a Certificate of Origin

    Apply to TNCC (opens the official site in a new tab) for an ordinary or preferential Certificate of Origin, as your buyer requires.

    Handled via TNCC (opens the official site in a new tab)

  4. Customs clearance and shipment

    Appoint a licensed Clearing and Forwarding Agent to lodge the TANCIS declaration and complete port clearance and shipment.

    Handled via TRA (opens the official site in a new tab)

Authorities Involved

TNCC

Tanzania National Chamber of Commerce

Issues Certificates of Origin.

Authority details → Visit official website

TRA

Tanzania Revenue Authority — Customs & TANCIS

Customs clearance via TANCIS.

Authority details → Visit official website

See the full Authorities & Agencies directory →

Official Sources

Official sources above are published by the Government of Tanzania via the Tanzania Trade Portal (TanTrade), content licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Commodities.tz republishes only concise factual citations and links to the original — always confirm current requirements on the official site.

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