Honey, including comb honey, is defined as food derived from the nectar of blossoms or plant secretions by honey bees, as per Ontario Regulation 119/11 under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001. This regulation outlines the legal requirements for grading, packaging, labeling, transporting, and selling honey in Ontario.
These regulations apply if you pack, transport, or sell honey in Ontario and do not possess a federal license from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for these activities. For complete details, please refer directly to the regulation.
It’s important to note that these provincial regulations are supplementary to any applicable federal legislation, such as the Food and Drugs Act or the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.
Food Safety Standards for Honey Packs
A crucial aspect of honey pack regulations is food safety. You are prohibited from:
- Packing, transporting, or offering contaminated honey for sale.
- Blending contaminated honey with honey that is not contaminated.
“Contaminated” honey is defined as honey that:
- Contains or has been exposed to a hazard.
- Contains a substance not permitted by the federal government.
- Exceeds permissible levels set by the federal government.
Requirements for Premises, Facilities, and Equipment
If you operate a facility where honey is produced or packed, maintaining cleanliness and sanitation is paramount. This applies to:
- Premises
- Facilities
- Equipment
- Utensils
All items used in honey production and packaging must be kept clean and sanitary to ensure the safety and quality of the honey pack.
Grade and Colour Classification for Honey Packs
For honey packs intended for consumers or retail outlets, grading and colour classification are mandatory according to sections 8, 9, and 11 of O. Reg. 119/11.
This classification process:
- Can be performed by the honey packer, producer, or their representative.
- Must be completed before the honey is transported or sold to consumers.
If you are re-packing honey, you are responsible for ensuring the honey pack is labeled with the correct grade and colour class.
However, grade and colour classification are not required for:
- Comb honey.
- Honey in containers less than 150 grams.
- “Farm gate” honey, which is produced in the producer’s apiary and sold directly to consumers from their residence.
Honey Grade Classifications
Honey grade is determined by factors such as:
- Moisture content.
- Flavour.
- Percent water (moisture).
- Insoluble solids.
- Presence of foreign materials.
Table 2 of O. Reg. 119/11 provides a comprehensive list of requirements for each grade. Honey must be labeled as one of the following Ontario grades:
- Ontario No. 1
- Ontario No. 2
- Ontario No. 3
Honey Colour Classifications
Honey colour classification must be performed in liquid form, following Table 3 of O. Reg. 119/11. The four honey colour classes are:
- White
- Golden
- Amber
- Dark
Container Regulations for Honey Packs
Section 17 of O. Reg. 119/11 outlines specific container requirements for honey packs.
Consumer Honey Containers
A consumer container is defined as any honey container with a capacity of five kilograms or less. These containers must be:
- New
- Clean
- Sound (undamaged and leak-proof)
- Securely closed
Honey in consumer containers can only be sold in the following net weights:
- Up to 375 grams (inclusive)
- 500 grams
- 750 grams
- 1 kilogram
- 1.5 kilograms
- 2 kilograms
- 3 kilograms
- 5 kilograms
These size restrictions do not apply to comb honey or farm gate honey.
Bulk Honey Containers
A bulk container is any honey container exceeding five kilograms in capacity. Bulk containers must be clean and sound.
Labeling Requirements for Honey Packs
Section 21 of O. Reg. 119/11 details the labeling requirements for honey packs. These requirements vary based on container size, honey type (comb or non-comb), and retail location (retail or farm gate).
Retail Honey Labels
“Retail” honey is sold from any location other than the producer’s residence.
Retail honey containers over 150 grams must include labels with:
- The name and full address of the packer or the person on whose behalf the honey is packed (e.g., retailer, producer).
- The word “honey/miel” or “comb honey/miel en rayon” if applicable.
- A notice stating comb honey contains cells of pollen, if applicable.
- Place of origin labeling, if required.
- The grade followed immediately by the colour class (e.g., “Ontario No. 1 White”), except for comb honey.
- The net weight of the honey in grams or kilograms.
Containers of honey with a capacity of 150 grams or less are exempt from grade, colour class, and net weight labeling, but all other labeling requirements still apply.
Farm Gate Honey Labels
Farm gate honey has fewer labeling requirements. It must be labeled with:
- The name and full address of the producer.
- The words “honey/miel” or “comb honey/miel en rayon” as appropriate.
Farm gate honey labels can voluntarily include additional information like net weight, grade, and colour class, but any included information must be accurate.
Name and Address on Honey Pack Labels
All honey pack labels must include a complete address sufficient to identify the exact physical location of the responsible party, including:
- Farm name, company name, or person’s full name.
- Street address.
- Town or city.
- Province.
- Postal code.
Honey Sold from Bulk Dispensers
Labeling requirements do not apply to containers filled by consumers directly from a bulk dispenser at the point of purchase. In this case, the bulk dispenser label is not required to show net weight, but all other label requirements apply.
For previously used bulk honey containers, ensure old labels are completely removed and replaced with compliant labels.
Place of Origin Labeling
Honey produced and packaged entirely within Ontario does not require place of origin labeling, although it is optional. If honey is produced outside Ontario but repackaged within the province, it must be labeled as “Product of/Produit de” followed by:
- The country or Canadian province of production for honey produced outside Ontario (e.g., “Product of USA,” “Product of Manitoba,” “Product of Canada”).
- All countries or Canadian provinces of production for honey that is a blend of Ontario honey and honey from outside Ontario (e.g., “Product of Ontario and Manitoba,” “Product of Canada and USA,” or “Product of Canada”).
Additional Label Information
Pasteurized, Creamed, or Liquid Honey
If your label specifies “pasteurized,” “creamed,” or “liquid” honey, the product must meet the definitions for these terms in Table 2 of O. Reg. 119/11.
Production Lot Codes
Including production lot codes on honey pack labels or containers is recommended. A production lot is a group of honey produced, processed, or packaged under similar conditions within a specific timeframe. A lot code is a unique identifier assigned to all products in a lot, using letters and/or numbers. Records must be maintained for each lot code.
Additional Regulatory Requirements
Provincial Requirements
Consult your local health unit for any additional requirements under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
Federal Requirements
Ontario’s honey pack regulations are in addition to federal requirements under the Food and Drugs Act or the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. For instance, the Food and Drugs Act mandates nutrition labeling on consumer containers.
Contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for more information about federal requirements or importing and exporting food products.
Misrepresentation Prohibited
Honey pack labels, containers, and advertisements must not contain any false or misleading information.
Honey Substitutes Regulations
Products with added ingredients like cinnamon or berry extracts are considered honey substitutes and are subject to different regulations. Honey substitutes are defined as products resembling honey, prepared for similar uses, and may contain honey as an ingredient, but not as the sole ingredient.
O. Reg. 119/11 includes specific labeling and container restrictions for honey substitutes in Section 26. Producers/packers of honey substitutes must not:
- Use words, pictures, or container shapes that could mislead consumers into thinking the product is pure honey.
- Use the word “honey” on any substitute container that does not contain any honey.
Honey substitutes cannot be labeled with a grade or colour class. Contact the CFIA and your Local Public Health Unit for specific requirements for honey substitutes.
Contact Information
OMAFRA staff can review your honey pack labels and provide guidance to ensure compliance with O. Reg. 119/11.
Contact the Inspection Programs Unit by email at [email protected] or call 1-877-424-1300 for further assistance.
