Congressman Bill Owens has introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would make the fraudulent sale of maple syrup a felony. Owens was joined by his colleagues Peter Welch of Vermont and Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree of Maine as original cosponsors of the Maple Agriculture Protection and Law Enforcement (MAPLE) Act.

“It is critical to the local economy that we protect maple producers from fraudulent competition,” Owens said. “When counterfeiters try to pass off a cheaper product as real maple syrup, they damage one of the region’s most successful industries. New York maple producers take great pride in their craft and it’s only fair that they have the opportunity to sell their syrup in an honest market.”

The MAPLE Act creates a felony offense carrying a five-year maximum penalty for selling fake maple syrup. Under current law, it is only a misdemeanor offense carrying a one-year penalty.

The MAPLE Act has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernard Sanders, Maine Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, and New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.