Three Ways to Spell Quality
There are three possible designations for maple syrup in Quebec. The designations can also be combined.
Renowned world-wide as a natural, high-quality food, Quebec maple syrup is a product whose purity, food safety and authenticity are subject to recognized quality control. Every barrel sold by the Fédération is inspected. The Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec has entrusted inspection of maple syrup in large containers to Cintech Agroalimentaire under the Entente relative à la gestion de l’inspection des produits de l’érable en grands contenants. This quality control is regulated by the Act respecting the Marketing of agricultural, food and fish products.
In Quebec, there are three designations for maple syrup, which can also be combined:
Organic Maple Syrup
Approximately 12% of Quebec maple syrup is certified organic, in accordance with the Act respecting reserved designations and added-value claims (R.S.Q. c. A- 20.02). This legislation aims to structure the use of designations granted to agricultural and food products by certifying (through product specifications) their production method, their production region and their specific qualities. Organic standards regulate sugar bush management, plant diversity, fertilization, pest control, tapping, and collection and the processing of maple water. Maple farmers abide by these standards (contained in the specifications), at all stages of maple syrup fabrication, from maintenance and farm layout to collection, storage and processing of maple water, cleaning equipment, storing the finished product and processing maple-derived products.
SIROPRO
SIROPRO is the official quality certification of the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec. It guarantees the authenticity of maple syrup sold in Quebec, as well as its adherence to classification standards for flavour and colour. It also provides consumers with a standard of quality (i.e. product specifications) and gives maple producers a certified quality control system. It ensures maple syrup products sold directly to Quebec consumers can be traced to their source. The SIROPRO certification programme is managed by the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec, which verifies that certified producers and processors follow SIROPRO specifications (see below). An independent firm ensures that SIROPRO quality standards for finished products sold in groceries are adhered to.
Demand SIROPRO certification from your producer or grocer: It's your guarantee of flavour and purity.
Kosher Maple Syrup
In order for the sugar maple's sap (maple water) to become maple syrup, it must be processed (by boiling the maple water), since it cannot be consumed directly from the tree.
To be certified kosher, maple syrup must adhere to a rigorous production procedure, in order to meet Jewish food law standards. Since there is no specifications sheet that can be used for all maple producers in Quebec, each production of each maple farm must be inspected and tested individually by a rabbi. The rabbi verifies that anything coming in contact with the product is certified kosher: from the equipment to the machinery, from the soap used to wash the equipment to the different additives used to stabilize the foam during boiling.
For producers who want to offer a kosher product, inspection of their production process lasts one to two weeks on average, and must be repeated every year.
For more information on kosher certification, contact Mr. Gad Ohayon at http://www.rabbinat.qc.ca/.