Importing Vanilla Beans to the U.S.: Everything You Need to Know

The American craving for vanilla has made the United States the number one importer of vanilla beans by volume in the world. That level of demand makes importing vanilla beans to the U.S. a profitable venture for savvy entrepreneurs. 

Key Takeaways

• Vanilla is usually categorized under the four-digit Harmonized Schedule (HS) codes 0905 for beans (crushed or uncrushed) or 1302 for extracts.
• The United States imports nearly 80% of its vanilla beans and extracts from Madagascar.
• The unique flavor of this spice comes from the compound vanillin, which can be synthesized by processing materials other than vanilla, such as wood pulp.
• Facilities that export vanilla to the United States must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Continue reading for a simple breakdown on how to import vanilla beans into the U.S. and turn a profit while doing so.

Where Does the U.S. Import Vanilla Beans From?

There are relatively few places in the world that are able to successfully grow and cultivate vanilla beans. The island nation of Madagascar is actually the world’s largest exporter of this popular spice. The United States imports from Madagascar and other nations. 

The top five nations for U.S. import of vanilla beans are as follows:

You might be curious as to why Madagascar is positioned so high as a vanilla exporter. I’ll touch on that briefly before we move on to more import-specific information.

What Makes Madagascar Vanilla Special?

The vanilla flavor or scent comes from a chemical compound known as vanillin. The concentration of this compound in the bean varies among the various growers. Vanilla beans grown in Madagascar generally contain the world’s highest concentration of vanillin. The island nation’s unique soil and climate allows it to produce more flavorful vanilla beans than anywhere else on Earth. 

Unfortunately, Madagascar’s cyclone season, which usually lasts from December to April, often results in agricultural damage and lost crops. This is just one factor that makes vanilla one of the world’s most expensive spices.

Why is Vanilla So Expensive?

When pricing vanilla, it is important to distinguish between the vanilla that is cultivated from the vanilla bean and that which is cultivated from vanillin. This chemical compound is commonly extracted from wood pulp. 

Vanillin can be produced more easily and at a significantly reduced cost compared to authentic vanilla beans. In fact, the majority of this popular flavoring in the global market comes from alternative sources.

The cost of vanilla extracted from beans is largely a result of the labor-intensive way it is grown. 

The only natural pollinators for vanilla flowers are bee species endemic to what is now Mexico and parts of Central America. This is why most commercially-grown vanilla flowers must be pollinated by hand during their blooming period, which is a window of less than 24 hours. Each pollinated flower will produce only one bean. 

Of course, lack of availability often drives demand, and American consumers go through the equivalent of two pounds worth of vanilla beans on average every year. If you want to help meet that demand (and make money in the process), you’ll need to familiarize yourself with import requirements from a few different government agencies.

Requirements for Importing Vanilla Beans

Officially, vanilla beans are a vegetable product along with coffee, tea, and mate. Since they fall under the category of food, they’re regulated by the FDA. As an importer, you’re responsible for making sure those food products are correctly labeled and safe for consumption. 

Since 2002, the Bioterrorism Act has required importers to provide prior notification to the FDA before importing food products. This notification allows the FDA to partner more effectively with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during inspections. A smoother inspection process is good for you as the importer. 

Two ways you can provide prior notification are through the:

• Automated Broker Interface of the Automated Commercial Environment (ABI/ACE): The current interface between CBP and FDA for document submissions. 
• Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI): Provided for those who may not be able to file through CBP and who prefer an interactive filing system. 

Any holds placed on imported shipments are at best an inconvenience to you as an importer. However, when food is involved, those inconvenient holds can become disastrous due to the limited shelf life of food. 

USA CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

Not Sure How to Successfully Import Vanilla Beans? We Can Help!

Get guidance from customs professionals about HTS codes, FDA regulations, and more.

Our 45 Minute Licensed Expert Consulting Will Personally Guide You.

Contact our Licensed Expert Consultant >

Do I Need a License to Import Vanilla Beans?

The FDA does not require importers to acquire a specific license to bring vanilla beans into the country. However, depending on your beans’ country of origin, you may encounter additional regulations that wouldn’t apply to other sources. 

For instance, Madagascar’s government works to ensure the high quality of their exported is not diminished by counterfeiters attempting to pass off a mediocre product as being vanilla from Madagascar. Because nearly 80% of vanilla beans imported to the United States are from this island nation, familiarizing yourself with their export requirements is highly recommended. 

Madagascar’s Ministry of Commerce maintains a list of authorized vanilla exporters. You’ll need to deal with one of these exporters to bring the country’s highly sought-after vanilla into the U.S. 

Other requirements for exporting vanilla products out of Madagascar include:

• Having a phytosanitary certificate and customs form
• Filing an invoice and proof of bank transfer with Malagasy customs authorities
• Labeling vanilla by harvest year and season
• Upon export, be as close as possible to the minimum price per kg (in USD) per MOC and Madagascar’s Integrated Exchange Transaction Management System (SIG-OC). 

Regardless of which nation you choose to import vanilla beans from, hiring an expert familiar with international customs is your best bet for a smooth and profitable transaction. Licensed customs brokers can provide this guidance.

Importing Vanilla Beans vs Vanilla Extract

Although vanilla beans and vanilla extract have the same source, the extract is classified under different HTS codes than the beans. If you are planning to import a mix of vanilla beans and vanilla extract, you must use distinct HTS codes. 

Additionally, there is no distinction made between vanilla extract from vanilla beans and extract derived from other sources of vanillin. The FDA defines it as a liquid solution containing vanilla constituents that can come from vanilla beans or any other source of vanillin. To provide clarity, I’ll refer to extracts made from non-vanilla bean sources as vanilla flavoring. 

The variety of vanilla flavorings creates further shipping classification distinctions. Unlike beans, which are only grown in specific environments within 20 degrees of the equator, vanilla extract can be synthesized from a number of sources. 

While the HTS doesn’t distinguish true vanilla extract from vanilla flavoring for import purposes, the FDA requires imported vanilla of any kind to be accurately labeled. 

USA CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

Reliable, Hassle-Free Customs Clearance Services

Request My Quote Now >

FDA Labeling Requirements for Vanilla 

Vanilla beans shipped whole or in a crushed/powdered form are subject to general FDA labeling requirements. The label must state:

• The food’s name
• Ingredients 
• Country of origin
• Nutritional value
• The name of the company selling the product
• Net weight

These rules do change sometimes, so it’s a good idea to check the FDA’s food labeling guide from time to time.

Extracts are a little more complicated.  To ensure that consumers have a clear idea of what they’re purchasing, the FDA has established the following rules for labeling vanilla extracts.

• Pure extracts must consist of at least 35% ethyl alcohol.
• The vanilla component must be no less than one part per gallon.
• The vanilla flavoring itself can be sourced from beans, vanilla oleoresin, or concentrated vanilla flavoring from processes that don’t involve vanilla beans.
• Other permissible ingredients are sugar, dextrose, propylene glycol, corn syrup, and glycerin.
• Extracts containing oleoresin, concentrated flavoring, or concentrated extract must be labeled “Made with (insert ingredient here)” or “Made in part from (insert ingredient here)”. 
• Clearly-visible instances of the food name must be preceded or immediately followed by the “Made with/Made out of” information specified above.
• When the extract contains two or more units of vanilla constituent, the food’s name must contain a “__-fold” designation. The constituent’s units per gallon should be used in place of the blank.
• All ingredients must be declared on the label.

In addition to these requirements, you must make sure your supplier’s facility is registered with the FDA. Unregistered facilities will have to register and submit 2-oz samples for inspection purposes prior to approval. 

Other Vanilla Product Imports

America’s sweet tooth means we also import many other vanilla products. Some of these  are derivatives of the bean itself, while others are based on vanillin. 

These vanilla products include:

• Powders: Made up of ground vanilla beans
• Paste: A blended mix of concentrated vanilla extract and powder
• Sugar: Refined sugar that is scented with vanilla

To make a truly exhaustive list of all products imported into the U.S. that contain vanilla or vanilla additives, whether as a scent or flavor, you would need to consider everything from puddings and ice cream to candles and hand lotions.

As an aspiring importer of vanilla beans, your initial concern should be less about their application and more about ensuring that your shipment arrives in acceptable condition.  

How Are Vanilla Beans Shipped?

The shipment of vanilla beans will depend on where they are arriving from. For instance, many countries prohibit the export of vanilla beans that have been vacuum-sealed because it is believed the plastic and lack of moisture has a negative impact on flavor and smell. Madagascar is one such country.

One popular packaging method used by shippers is to seal vanilla beans in tin-plate containers lined with wax paper. These containers are further loaded into crates before being palletized and loaded for shipment.

Maintaining the following conditions in transit will help ensure no mold or spoilage occurs during the likely weeks-long travel time of your shipment.

• Temperature: 5 to 25 degrees Celsius (41 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Ventilation: Six cycles per hour
• Relative Humidity: 75%

When choosing a carrier for your shipment, make sure they can accommodate these needs. 

Import Vanilla Beans With USA Customs Clearance

Importing food of any kind can be a frustrating ordeal. Between finding a supplier, arranging appropriate shipping, and ensuring your products meet FDA and CBP regulations, even seasoned importers can find themselves in need of assistance. That’s where we come in.

A one-on-one consulting session with one of the experienced customs brokers  here at USA Customs Clearance can provide you with guidance on fee calculation, proper documentation, HTS code clarification, and any other aspect of the import process. Food products only have so long of a shelf life before spoiling sets in. We can ensure that your shipment of vanilla beans or extract clears customs as quickly as possible.

Our services for importers in the U.S. also include:

• Full customs brokerage
• Importer of record (IOR) registration
• Manifest confidentiality
• And more

Give us a call today at (855) 912-0406 or submit a contact form online for a no-obligation price quote. When it comes to importing vanilla, we’ve bean there and done that.