Archived - Canada's Regulatory Requirements for Honey
This page has been archived
This page was archived due to the coming into force of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. Archived information is provided for reference, research or record-keeping purposes only. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. For current information visit Food.
Honey is found in nearly every home in Canada and on many coffee shop counters.
Honey has a special distinction as it's the only product regulated by the Honey Regulations. Other bee products, such as honeycomb, flavoured honey, royal jelly, bee propolis, and bee pollen fall under the Food and Drugs Act.
As part of our oversight role, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates federally registered honey establishments and honey imported into Canada to verify that honey is:
- safe and wholesome,
- properly packaged and labelled according to the regulatory requirements,
- eligible to be traded interprovincially or exported, and
- eligible to bear the Canada grade mark.
Both domestic and imported honey must meet the same standards for health, safety, and quality. The CFIA conducts random and targeted checks to verify that imported honey meets Canadian regulatory requirements. Concerns that are brought to our attention are also investigated.
The Agency takes the non-compliance of any food product seriously. Honey that does not meet Canada's regulatory requirements may be subject to recall, destruction, or returned to the country of origin.
We work closely with the Canadian honey industry to ensure honey fully meets the quality Canadians expect, which are outlined in our regulatory standards.
Learn more about the CFIA's role in honey.
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