Food safety and rules for produce, honey and maple products

Overview

The term “foods of plant origin” refers to produce, honey and maple products regulated under Ontario Regulation 119/11 (O. Reg. 119/11) of the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001. These foods may also be subject to other applicable federal, provincial or municipal legislation.

The ministry’s Inspection Programs Unit:

• administers and enforces the requirements under O. Reg. 119/11 for foods of plant origin
• provides education and regulatory information to the industry
• administers monitoring programs to assess regulatory compliance

This page summarizes key food safety requirements and monitoring programs for foods of plant origin under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 (FSQA). For complete legal definitions and detailed requirements, refer to Ontario Regulation 119/11 under the FSQA. 

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001

• Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001
• Ontario Regulation 119/11 — Produce, Honey and Maple Products

Licences and inspections

As a regulated entity, you do not need a licence or permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) to pack, label, transport, sell or advertise produce, honey or maple products in Ontario under Ontario Regulation 119/11 of the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 (FSQA).

However, you are still responsible for meeting all requirements under the regulation. You should also check other regulatory authorities (such as the federal government and any municipal health units) to find out if you need any additional licences, permits, business registrations or other permissions.

You also do not need a pre-inspection or pre-approval from OMAFA before starting a regulated activity under O. Reg. 119/11. Keep in mind, you must still follow the regulation’s requirements and may be subject to sampling and inspection under the FSQA.

Learn more about our monitoring programs.

Produce

Under O. Reg. 119/11, produce is fresh fruits, vegetables, edible fungi, culinary herbs, sprouts and nuts that are grown or harvested for commercial purposes.

This includes produce that is wrapped, packaged or cut into pieces for individual sale.

What’s not included

Processed (canned or preserved) or minimally processed (peeled, cut, sliced or shredded  as ready-to-eat or ready-to-cook) produce, or produce used in the manufacture of other products, is not covered by this regulation.

Check with your local public health unit and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for food safety legislation related to processed or minimally processed produce. Also consult the Farm Products Marketing Act and its regulations for requirements that may apply to processed fruits and vegetables.

• Regulatory requirements for produce in Ontario
• Overview of food safety for sprouts and microgreens
• Parasites on produce:
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Giardia

Honey

Honey, including comb honey, is a food made by honey bees from the nectar of flowers or from plant secretions.

Learn more about honey rules and safety

• Regulatory requirements for honey in Ontario
• Prevent lead contamination in honey

Maple products

Maple products include maple sap, maple sugar, maple taffy and maple syrup. These products are made exclusively by concentrating maple sap or, in the case of maple syrup, by diluting other maple products in potable water.

Learn more about maple product rules and safety

• Regulatory requirements for maple products in Ontario
• Premises and food grade material requirements for producing maple syrup in Ontario
• Preventing lead contamination in maple products
• Preventing mold growth in maple syrup
• Production lot codes for maple syrup in Ontario

Monitoring programs

• Environmental Monitoring Program: dairy and foods of plant origin facilities
• Honey Monitoring Program and results
• Maple Syrup Monitoring Program and results
• Food Safety Monitoring Program and results

Cleaning and sanitation

• Verifying sanitation effectiveness with environmental monitoring

Contact us

For more information about Ontario Regulation 119/11 or the ministry’s monitoring programs, email the Inspection Programs Unit at FPO.OMAFRA@ontario.ca. The materials on this page and any information provided by IPU staff are intended only as references for issues covered under Ontario Regulation 119/11.