901:3-44-01. Mandatory food sampling tolerance level standards and action steps for maple syrup, sorghum, and honey


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  • (A) The following tolerance levels and action steps are adopted by the Ohio department of agriculture for evaluating the level of lead to determine whether maple syrup or sorghum produced, processed, or offered for sale in the state of Ohio is adulterated as per section 3715.59 of the Revised Code:

    Tolerance level standards and action steps

    Lead tolerance level for maple syrup and sorghum

    Action step

    0 - 499 Parts per billion

    Acceptable. A warning letter shall be issued by the director to any producer or processor whose maple syrup or sorghum lead levels are greater than two hundred fifty parts per billion but less than five hundred parts per billion.

    500 Parts per billion and greater

    Maple syrup and sorghum is considered adulterated in accordance with section 3715.59 of the Revised Code.

    (B) The following tolerance levels and action steps are adopted by the Ohio department of agriculture for evaluating the levels of coumaphos and antibiotics to determine whether or not honey or the components thereof produced, processed, or offered for sale in the state of Ohio is considered to be adulterated as per section 3715.59 of the Revised Code:

    (1) There shall be no antibiotics detected in any sample of honey or the beeswax of honey. The detection of antibiotics in any amount shall render the honey or the beeswax of honey as adulterated as per section 3715.59 of the Revised Code.

    (2) Coumaphos shall not exceed one hundred parts per billion in any sample of honey and shall not exceed one hundred parts per million in any sample of the beeswax of honey, otherwise, the honey or beeswax will be considered adulterated as per section 3715.59 of the Revised Code.


Effective: 9/2/2017
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 6/16/2017 and 09/02/2022
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3715.022
Rule Amplifies: 3715.022 , 3715.59
Prior Effective Dates: 2/15/2004