Consumer information | Ontario regulations 
may prevent sales of honey in Mason jars
DRESDEN, Ont. — Two Ontario honey producers say regulations governing container sizes in Canada are getting in the way of common sense.
Astrid Manske and her husband, David Moffat, of OtonoBee Apiary near Peterborough have been selling honey in half-litre and one-litre Mason jars. The honey in the jars weighs 650 grams and 1.33 kilograms, respectively.
That’s out of spec, according an April 24 ruling by James D. Richardson, a director under Ontario’s Food Safety and Quality Act. Richardson cites the act, which refers to the federal government’s honey regulations under the Agricultural Products Act.
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Honey can be packed in containers that hold 500 grams, 750 grams, one kg, 1.5 kg and various other weights but not 650 grams or 1.33 kg.
“The net weights of the honey sold by OtonoBee Apiary are 650 grams and 1.33 kg. Neither of these weights is listed in the federal honey regulations,” Richards ruled.
There is a provision for latitude in the federal regulations:
“Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the minister may permit the sale of honey packed in novelty containers of non-standard sizes.”
However, Manske said Ontario agriculture ministry staff told her the provision applies only to federally registered honey producers.
The ministry may still be convinced to allow the off-spec jars. Manske said an appeal of the April decision has been set for June 26.
“We have a market and this is our product and our identity. People like what we sell and they want what we sell: honey in a Mason jar,” she said.
“We’re fighting to maintain our customers and our business.”
Manske and Moffat learned there was a concern about a year ago. Along with being asked to change the jar sizes, there were also labelling issues to deal with.
However, instead of changing the jars, they came up with a creative solution by offering the amount of honey above the regulated weights as a bonus.
For example, customers who want the litre jars buy a kilogram of honey and are given 330 grams as their bonus.
However, neither Richardson nor the ministry officials who visited the farm in January and March accepted the tactic.
“They slapped us with a compliance order with a two week deadline,” Manske said.
“There was no interest in discussing or trying to understand our interpretation of the rules.”
The regulations do not affect on-farm sales, but Manske and Moffat sell their honey in stores in the Peterborough area and at a farmers market.
At Munro Honey in Alvinston, John Bryans said he and his family regularly deal with Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Ontario agriculture ministry inspectors.
He sympathizes with Manske and Moffat but also said there is logic to the rules for containers sizes because they provide customers with a visual means to compare pricing.
“This is more for the consumer than it is for us.”
Bryans said the regulations also serve as a disincentive for U.S. companies to package offshore for resale in Canada.
