December 16, 2014 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The Harper Government announced today that the Maple Products Regulations have been amended. These regulatory changes will help Canadian maple producers market and sell maple syrup in North America and around the world. The amended regulations will be published in Canada Gazette, Part II on December 31, 2014.
The changes harmonize the definition and grading system in the United States and Canada, and give consumers more consistent and relevant information about different varieties of maple syrup.
The new standards modernize the current grades and colour classes of maple syrup, introducing new flavour descriptors that will help consumers make more informed choices when buying maple syrup. For example, four revised colour classes and new taste descriptors will categorize pure maple syrup on a scale ranging from "Golden Maple Syrup with a delicate taste" to "very Dark Maple Syrup with a strong taste".
A two-year implementation period will provide time for industry to meet the new requirements.
Gerry Ritz
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Nancy Greene Raine
Senator
Yvon Poitras
President, International Maple Syrup Institute
Emily Hogeveen
Press Secretary
The Office of Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture
613-773-1059
Media Relations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
613-773-6600
