Calgary Distillery Confronts Federal Sales Prohibition Over Labeling Controversy
A Calgary-based distillery is warning that a federal sales prohibition could spell the end of its operations, claiming inspectors unfairly targeted its whisky products over labeling and aging requirements. Bridgeland Distillery co-founders Daniel Plenzik and Jacques Trembley say the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has imposed a sales ban on three of their products, alleging improper use of the term "bourbon" and non-compliance with mandatory aging standards.
Federal Agency Cites Labeling and Aging Violations
According to CFIA documentation from February 6, the agency determined that Bridgeland's "Taber Corn Berbon Corn Mash Spirit" cannot be marketed as whisky because it only aged for one year instead of the required three years under Canadian regulations. The agency also objected to the distillery's creative use of the term "berbon" on product labels, stating such products "may no longer be distributed or sold in Canada."
The affected products include Taber Corn Berbon Corn Mash Spirit, Taber Corn Berbon 101 Whisky, and Berbon Peach Cocktail. Plenzik revealed that the CFIA first notified the distillery about a complaint in June, followed by an inspection that same month, culminating in the recent sales prohibition.
Business Impact and Regulatory Concerns
"It's half of our sales which we're told we have to stop," Plenzik stated, emphasizing that the two award-winning products now under "detention" are crucial to the distillery's financial sustainability. He expressed frustration that the company wasn't given adequate opportunity to present its case before the prohibition was enforced.
"They tell us we're guilty without the ability to rebut," Plenzik said, adding that the distillery attempted to explain their position in a February 9 email to the CFIA. The company argued that "corn" specifies the grain used and that there's "no exhaustive list of permitted common names for unstandardized spirits" that would prohibit their labeling approach.
Allegations of Inconsistent Enforcement
Plenzik contends that other Canadian distilleries using similar wordplay with "bourbon" aren't facing equivalent scrutiny, suggesting inconsistent application of regulations. He also questioned why federal resources are being directed toward what he considers a labeling technicality rather than more pressing food safety concerns.
"Obviously, they don't understand spirits... they put their time and resources on this when they should be looking at food safety and people possibly dying. It's craziness," Plenzik remarked. He further noted the irony of this enforcement occurring while the federal government encourages support for Canadian products amid international trade tensions.
The distillery maintains that "berbon" represents a nod to Taber, Alberta, and local agricultural heritage rather than an attempt to mislead consumers. As the business faces this regulatory challenge, its founders warn that the sales prohibition could have devastating consequences for their operation and question the fairness of the CFIA's approach to small Canadian businesses.
