1. (a) A producer or packer of New Hampshire maple products may use the state of New Hampshire seal of quality design after receiving a yearly permit from the department, and only while said yearly permit is active.
2. (b) A packer of New Hampshire maple products shall use the state of New Hampshire seal of quality design on products sourced only from seal of quality permit holders.
3. (c) Maple products shall be compliant with all applicable provisions of RSA 429:13-19, RSA 429:25-a--27, Agr 904, and Agr 1003.
4. (d) Maple syrup shall meet one of the grades established in Agr 904.06(a)-(d).

5. (e) The following filter requirements for maple syrup shall be met:

   1. (1) Sap filters shall be clean at the time of use with no evidence of mold or odors that may cause an off flavor;
   2. (2) Filtering materials, including but not limited to, a filter press, filter papers, wool, or synthetic cone filters, shall be clean with no evidence of mold or odors that may cause an off flavor;
   3. (3) Only food grade lubricant shall be used in the filter press pump; and
   4. (4) Diatomaceous earth used shall be food grade, and shall be placed in a clean dry container with a lid.

6. (f) The following container requirements for maple syrup shall be met:

   1. (1) Drums and other bulk containers shall be stored and treated in a manner to prevent contamination;
   2. (2) Drums and other bulk containers not actively being filled shall be protected from debris and pests via sealed bungs or other means;
   3. (3) Drums that have been labeled “not for reuse” shall not be used;
   4. (4) Only new containers for packaged maple syrup shall be used;
   5. (5) Packaged maple syrup shall be filled to provide adequate space to make certain that the inner seal is properly sealed, then capped; and
   6. (6) All containers used for packaged maple syrup shall be stored in a manner that will prevent contamination from debris, animals, or other sources, prior to filling.

7. (g) The following requirements shall apply to buildings where maple sap and maple syrup is stored, produced, further processed, or packaged:

   1. (1) All light bulbs over sap or syrup, including over tanks, releasers, boiling pans, filters, and canning equipment, shall be protected by shields or slip on tubes to prevent broken glass from falling into food contact equipment, sap, or syrup;
   2. (2) The interior and exterior of buildings shall be clean and free of debris;
   3. (3) There shall be protection to prevent contamination from falling into a tank, pan, or other containers that will contact sap or syrup;
   4. (4) All surfaces in the buildings which could contact sap or syrup shall be clean and free from dirt, mold, debris, or evidence of pests at the time of use;
   5. (5) The producer shall document the startup cleaning procedures used for tank, pans, and all food-contact equipment; and
   6. (6) Floors shall be of concrete or some other material capable of being easily cleaned.

8. (h) The following requirements shall be met for materials that will contact sap or syrup:

   1. (1) The materials shall not:

      1. a. Have previously held non-food grade products;
      2. b. Have previously held food considered an allergen; and
      3. c. Be rusty or have painted interiors; and
   2. (2) Tubing and pipes used for sap and syrup transfer shall be foodgrade.

9. (i) The following sanitation requirements for maple syrup shall be met:

   1. (1) Clean water, liquid soap, and disposable towels shall be present for hand washing;
   2. (2) Domestic animals shall not be in the rooms where sap and syrup are being boiled, packed, or otherwise processed; and
   3. (3) A supply of clean, hot water shall be readily available for cleaning equipment, and pond or brook water shall not be used for cleaning equipment;

10. (j) Chemicals used in a maple operation shall meet the following requirements:

    1. (1) Pesticides shall not be kept in any room where sap or syrup is present;
    2. (2) Equipment cleaners and petroleum products shall be stored in such a way as to prevent contamination of sap and syrup; and
    3. (3) A response plan shall be in place in the event of a chemical spill.
11. (k) Maple operations shall not use any lead-containing equipment.

Source. #6734, eff 4-21-98 (formerly Agr 1002.04), EXPIRED: 4-21-06 New. #10952, eff 10-21-15; ss by #14554, eff 4-7-26, EXPIRES: 4-7-36