Canada backtracks on labeling wine made beyond Green Line - AP and Israel Hayom Staff

by AP and Israel Hayom Staff

Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Israeli wines made in Judea and Samaria, east Jerusalem and Golan Heights do, in fact, adhere to criteria of Canada-Israel free trade treaty

Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it "regrets" directive to ban wines produced in Judea and Samaria [Illustrative] | Photo credit: AP

Canada's federal food inspection agency on Thursday backtracked from its decision that wines produced beyond the Green Line should not be labeled as "Made in Israel."

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a statement that it had not "fully considered" the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement in reaching its ruling. The agency said the wines do in fact adhere to the agreement and can be sold as currently labeled.

Earlier this week, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario advised vendors that wine made from grapes grown, fermented, processed and blended in Judea and Samaria, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights may no longer be labeled as "Made in Israel," over concerns it "misleads" consumers.

Canadian retailers were also asked to stop importing spirits from two specific wineries -- Psagot Winery in Psagot, north of Jerusalem, and Shilo Winery, in the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council -- and to remove all Psagot and Shilo wines from store shelves.

The Food Inspection Agency expressed regret Thursday and said it was following up with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to correct the situation.

AP and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=43831

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