Overview of Honey Regulations

REGA 514 - Regulations Of Agricultural Biotechnology And Food Products

Instructor: Mr. Keith Mussar Mukesh Kumar A 3/19/2013

Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

Honey Regulations
Honey in Canada Canadas Bee industry, the annual production of honey exceeds $100 million nationally. Approximately 475,000 colonies are located in the Prairie Provinces and they produce 80% of Canada's crop. Bees, through their pollination of fruit, vegetables and canola, increase agricultural production by two to eight times, with an estimated value of $2 billion dollars annually across Canada. There are approximately 7,000 beekeepers in Canada, operating a total of 600,000 colonies of honeybees3.

Honey Regulation In Canada, Honey is regulated under Canada Agricultural Product Act. This act mainly concentrates on the grading, packing and marking of the honey. This regulation applies to honey which is obtained from the comb. It does not apply to the products like jelly and flavors where honey is an ingredient. Commercially available honey has to be edible, uncontaminated, prepared in a sanitary manner, and should meet the FDA and FDR criteria. It can only be marketed contaminated if the honey is manufactured for export or interprovincial trade and previously tested to be uncontaminated. Contaminated honey cannot be mixed with uncontaminated honey to force the product to meet regulations. Honey can be marketed as animal food if contaminated but still meets the animal food regulations, it has to be marketed as animal food or Aliments pour

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

animaux, also prepared in a different area than the human consumption honey, and if possible, made to look inedible.

Grading of Honey There are three grades of honey, Canada No. 1, Canada No. 2 and Canada No. 3 . These grades can only be applied to honey made in a registered company, and which meets all the standards as per the grades Canada No1. Grade honey must: o Not contain more than 17.8% moisture or if pasteurized, a moisture content no more than 18.6% o Be free from foreign material that could not be retained on a US National Bureau of Standards standard 80-mesh screen o Not contain more than 0.1% water insoluble solids, or if pressed/ de presse, not more than 0.5% o When marked liquid or liquide, the honey is clear, bright, uniform in colour and free from visible crystals o where its container is marked creamed or en crme or is otherwise marked to indicate that the contents are granulated, has a smooth fine texture and complete and uniform granulation

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

Canada No.2 grade honey must o Not contain more than 18.6% moisture or if pasteurized, a moisture content not more than 20% o Be free from foreign material that could not be retained on a US National Bureau of Standards standard 60-mesh screen o Not contain more than 0.1% water insoluble solids, or if pressed/ de presse, not more than 0.5% o Slight flavour alteration but does not overpowering the natural flavour o When in container that is marked liquid or liquide, has a colour that may be dull and cloudy or slightly uneven and shows minimum signs of crystallization in the form of a light suspension or minor sedimentation of crystals

Canada No.3 grade honey must o Contain less than 20% moisture o Not contain more than 0.1% water insoluble solids, or if pressed/ de presse, not more than 0.5% o can have a flavour that is slightly off but not affecting the natural flavour

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

Classification of Honey Pre-packaged Honey Class Designation Classifier White Golden Not darker than White on Honey Reading on Pfund Honey Grader Not more than 30 millimetres

Darker than White but not More than 30 millimetres but darker than Golden not more than 50 millimetres

Amber

Darker than Golden but not More than 50 millimetres but darker than Amber not more than 85 millimetres More than 85 millimetres

Dark

Darker than Amber

Honey packed in bulk containers Class Designation Classifier Extra White White Not darker than Extra White on Honey Reading on Pfund Honey Grader Not more than 13 millimetres

Darker than Extra white but More than 13 millimetres but not darker than White not more than 30 millimetres

Golden

Darker than White but not More than 30 millimetres but darker than Golden not more than 50 millimetres

Light Amber

Darker than Golden but not More than 50 millimetres but darker than Light Amber not more than 85 millimetres

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

Dark Amber

Darker than Light Amber but More than 85 millimetres but not darker than Dark Amber not more than 114

millimetres Dark Darker than Dark Amber More than 114 millimetres

Registration of the establishment Establishments for honey can be registered under three categories; packing establishment, a pasteurizing establishment or a producer-grader establishment. The registration request should be made to the Director of CFIA, in a form provided by the agency accompanied by the fees. The request should include the; the name, address, the postal code, telephone number and, if any the facsimile number and electronic mail address of the applicant and of the establishment, when they are different from those of the applicant. If the request is for renewal then the existing registration number is required, in addition, an annexed copy of detailed outline of the
sanitation program. The certificate of registration is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and renewed thereafter. The certification of establishment is considered void if it is transferred to another name. The issued certificate can be suspended by the Director of CFIA if the establishment does not meet or comply with the requirements of the act or regulations. The Inspector at the time of the inspection should provide the operator with a copy of an inspection report that sets out the grounds for suspension, the required corrective measures and the dates by which those measures must be implemented in order to avoid suspension and cancellation. The establishment will remain suspended unless the corrective actions taken are verified by the inspector.

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

The Director may cancel the registration of a registered establishment if the operator has not implemented the required corrective measures within the 30-day period following the day on which the registration was suspended or within any longer period of time frame. The establishment registration is cancelled if there is a change in ownership that involves a change of management of the establishment, or the application for registration contains false or misleading information. No registration can be cancelled unless the operator was advised of an opportunity to be heard in respect of the cancellation and given the opportunity. If the operator doesnt comply then a notice of cancellation of registration will be delivered to the operator.

Packaging After January of 1980, all packaged honey has to be in the metric system. Smaller packages ranging from 1 to 5 ounces, 8 ounces, 12 ounces, 1 pound(or lbs), 1.5 lbs, 2 lbs up to 8lbs should be converted to 150 grams (g), 250g, 350g, 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg, 2kg, 3kg or 5kg. The bulk containers should be changed from 30lb, 40lbs, 60lbs, 65lbs, 70lbs, barrel. 1 barrel and unspecified sizes to 7kg, 15kg, 30kg, or anything bigger that goes up by 1kg. The Ministry can, however, allow experimental sizes and/or retro containers that do not use the metric system to be sold. A label has to be marked with everything that is applicable and should contain marks that are not applicable. This includes the kind of honey; honeydew honey, Lavender honey, Rubinia honey, alfalfa honey, Banksia menziesii honey or honey. Also the grade and classification right next to each other (mentioned before), the net weight, If pasteurized, pressed, a liquid or creamed, must be labelled Pasteurized, Pressed, Liquid, Creamed (or any other word

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

that would lead the consumer to believe it was granulated), name, address and phone number of the packer and the address of the first dealer, and Brand/Trade name if applicable *Note that the lettering on the labels must meet the specific size requires so that a majority can read the label* Main Panel Size Less than 32 square cm Size of font (height) 1.6mm

More than 32 square cm but less than 258 3.2mm square cm More than 258 square cm but less than 645 6.4mm square cm More than 645 square cm but less than 25.8 9.5mm square dm More than 25.8 square dm 12.7mm

Inspection and Certification The manufacturer must request an inspector for getting the Honey certified. If the inspector is within the area, the manufacturer must request the inspector 48 hours in advance. If outside the area, 72 hours or more are recommended to request in advance to needing the inspection. The responsibilities of the manufacturer include; bringing the honey to the place and time requested by the inspector, having the honey readily available for the inspector to start working, making sure the area that the inspector is working in is in a suitable manner which

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

includes ample lighting and at least 10oC. Also the manufacturer should pay the required fees to the inspector. Imports Honey cannot be imported into Canada unless; it meets the properties of the marked grade and classification, labels in general are completely correct and match the same specification as the labels used in Canada; the font size is at least 9.5mm in height. The importer must submit an import declaration statement, which provides; the name and address of the exporter, importer, packer and consignees. The description of honey and any identification numbers (common name, grade, brand name, and production codes) for each consignee, the number of shipping containers, the number, size, net weight and kind of containers per shipping container and the production codes . A statement stating that the raw honey was obtained following GMPs prepared in a sanitary manner originated from a country that has standards that are at least equivalent to those stated in the Regulations of honey and has an inspection system for both the product and the facilities that are at least equivalent to Canadas standards. The most important criteria that should be met are that, the honey must be edible before it is shipped and the all information on the label is accurate with respect to the grade, classification and packaging size.

Exports For Honey to be exported, the honey must be made in a registered establishment and meet the grade and classification

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

These regulations do not affect a honey product which is a shipment that weighs less than 20kg, if it is a part of an emigrants effects or carried on any vessel, train, motor vehicle, aircraft or other means of transportation for use as food for the crew or passengers thereof. If the regulations are not followed, the honey can still be exported if; the registration number of the establishment in which the honey was packed is marked on the label of the container, the lot number or the code of the shipment is marked on the label or embossed on the container, the markings on the label or the container do not misrepresent the quality, quantity, colour class, composition, characteristics, origin, safety or value of the honey, the shipper provides to an inspector a signed statement certifying that the container and labelling meet the requirements of the importing country; the statement is included in the export documentation. To obtain an export certificate, the operator must have an application completely filled out with date and place of application, the registration number of establishment, name and address of exporter and consignee, name of carrier, date of shipment to be sent, a description of the honey and any identification marks including the grade and the brand name, the number of shipping containers and the number, size and kind of containers per shipping container, a statement that the honey mentioned in the application is sound, wholesome and edible and that it meets the requirements of the Act and these Regulations, the signature of the applicant, and the honey must be inspected. For interprovincial trade the honey product must be prepared in a registered establishment, meet grade and classification standards, packaged/labelled according to regulations. If these are not followed, it can still be marketed if the honey is in bulk, if the containers are labelled with the name and address of the producer or packer. The honey should be conveyed
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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

to a registered establishment for the purposes of colour classification, grading, repacking or reprocessing.

Administration: Seizing and Detaining When an inspector seizes or detains honey product or other products, there must be a detention tag affixed to the container which has the following in bold letters; UNDER DETENTION and RETENU, Identification number, description of the honey, reason for seizure and detention, date of seizure and detention, name of inspector in big, bold lettering with a signature. The inspector will send a letter of detention; to the person having the care or custody of the honey or other material at the place where it was seized, to the owner of the honey or other material that was seized or to the owners agent, and to the person having the care or custody of the honey or other material where the detained product has been put. A notice of detention is the-n produced, which has the Identification number, description of the honey or material, reason for seizure and detention, date of seizure and detention, name of inspector in big, bold lettering with a signature, place of detention, the telephone number to call for further information in respect to the seizure and detention All detained product must be kept in storage that is suitable to preserving the honey, if the inspector finds that the detained honey meets the acts and regulations that act upon honey, the inspector can release the honey from detainment.

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Honey Regulations REGA 514

Mukesh Kumar A Student ID: 821178209

Administration - Forfeiture and Disposal If honey is forfeited due to a failure to follow an Act, it is to be disposed of depending on the court ruling that forced the forfeiture. If there is no ruling on the disposal, the following must be done. If the honey is edible, it has to be donated to a charity or sold and any proceeds deposited to the credit of the Receiver General If the honey is inedible, it has to be disposed or destroyed in a manner consistent with all applicable environmental requirements or sold for preparation as animal food or as a non-food product and any proceeds deposited to the credit of the Receiver General. If the honey product is other than honey that is under forfeiture, it has to be sold and any proceeds deposited to the credit of the Receiver General

References 1. Department of Justice, Government of Canada. Canada Agricultural Product Act. Honey Regulations. Ottawa: , 2013. Web. <http://lawslois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._287/index.html>. 2. Government of Canada. Canadian Food Inspection Agency.Honey Establishment Inspection Manual. Ottawa: , 2012. Web. <http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/honmiel/estman/estmane.shtml>. 3. Government of Canada. Western Economic Diversification Canada. Strengthening Albertas bee and honey industry. Alberta: , 2012. Web. <http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/13808.asp>.

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