Honey ProgramLegislation Update:On July 1, 2011 the Ontario government introduced new regulations with regard to food safety, grading, packaging and labelling of fruit and vegetables, honey and maple products. Ontario Regulation 119/11 - Produce, Honey and Maple Products under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 replaced Regulations 378 - Grades, Fruit and Vegetables, 384 - Honey and 386 - Maple Products in the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act. The information for this link is currently being updated to reflect the new changes. A copy of O. Reg. 119/11 can be found at: We request your patience while we update this page. In the meantime, if you have any questions or need specific information, please contact:
Foods of Plant Origin Program DescriptionHoney program staff prepare and disseminate educational material for producers on requirements legislated by Regulation 119/11 of the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001. This regulation includes labelling and grade standards. Staff liaise with industry and other government agencies on an on-going basis to address concerns of the Ontario honey industry. The Program supports development of food safety and quality assurance programs by providing materials and resources to assist in program development and review. Staff work closely with the University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre and also the Ontario Beekeepers Association Tech-Transfer Program on scientific and field oriented studies of honey bee problems. Honey samples are collected for analysis under the Food Safety Monitoring Program. When lead levels and drug residues are found to be in excess of Health Canada guidelines or when there is non-compliance with Regulation 119/11, producers and/or other agencies are notified. Staff assist individual producers in resolving identified food safety and regulatory non compliance issues identified by the testing program. Compliance and enforcement action may be taken in the event of serious and/or repeated non-compliance. The Provincial Apiarist oversees compliance and enforcement of the Bees Act. Bee inspectors are employed in agricultural regions of Ontario to inspect honey bees and to carry out moving and selling permit inspections. When American Foulbrood is discovered, orders are issued to destroy the infected colonies. Information gathered from all aspects of the program is communicated by the Provincial Apiarist to individual beekeepers, to industry-as-a-whole and to each of the province's local beekeeper's associations. Contacts:If you require further information on: Quality and Food Safety - contact...
Paul Bailey Production issues - contact...
Paul Kozak Debbie Fishbein Sal DeMonte Ontario Beekeepers' Association... Maureen Vander
Marel Additional Information:For further Honey information available either through the ministry or University of Guelph websites, just click on the links below: Horticulture Crops Newsletters For more information: Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300 Local: (519) 826-4047 E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
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