By Canadian Press

Federal food agency ruling says two West Bank wines are not a ‘Product of Israel’

May 15, 2022 | 2:19 PM

OTTAWA — The federal food inspection agency says two wines produced in the West Bank and sold in Ontario were falsely branded “Product of Israel,” given the lack of clarifying information on the labels.

In a new determination, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the wines were not produced within the internationally recognized boundaries of Israel, and their labels do not mention they were made in an area of the West Bank administered by the Israeli state.

As a result, the labelling runs afoul of provisions of the Food and Drugs Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Act.

However, the food inspection agency says it lacks a mandate to suggest accurate wording or to approve labels.

Instead, the agency intends to hold a consultation later this year with interested parties on an acceptable declaration of origin in this case and similar circumstances.

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Activist David Kattenburg, whose 2017 complaint about the labelling sparked the long-running case, says he intends to take part in the consultation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2022.

The Canadian Press