It finally happened. After a few months of lobbying, the Senate voted Thursday to call on the government to amend the maple syrup regulations to clamp down on fake syrup makers, and give Canadians an easy-to-understand guide to the different types of maple syrup. (Hint: There are four.)

The changes will happen, said Sen. Nancy Greene Raine, who has been pushing for the change since late January. However, when that will happen is not clear. It’s up to Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz to make the regulatory changes, Greene Raine said, hopefully in time for the next syrup season.

“I’m happy that it’s (just) in time… to urge the government to have new regulations in time for next season,” the B.C. senator said.

This syrup season is over, but next year’s work could be impacted by new labeling rules, which the Senate called for on Thursday.

The new labeling regulations, if fast-tracked, would let consumers know two things: one, that the syrup they’re buying is pure, golden, Grade A, Canadian maple syrup — not that fake stuff trying to be Canadian syrup — and two, how sweet the syrup is. There could be four classes of syrup by this time next year: golden, which is light with a mild taste; amber, which is full-bodied; dark, which is has a stronger taste than its light-coloured brethren; and very dark, which has a strong taste and recommended for cooking purposes.

Anything found to be below “Grade A Maple Syrup” would be yanked from retail shelves.

The new labeling rules would require producers to state their place of origin to prevent knock-offs from trying to pass themselves off as Canadian maple syrup in overseas markets, Greene Raine said.

The new labeling rules don’t require a legislative change, Greene Raine said, meaning the department can move the regulatory change to the top of the to-do pile. The change will have to go through the regular process of giving notice to interested individuals and hearing from the public, but Greene Raine said at least the changes aren’t wallowing on a shelf collecting dust.

“I am delighted that the Senate supports the motion. The proposed new regulations will help Canadian producers in expanding sales of the world’s healthiest sweetener and will protect this iconic product from being adulterated in foreign market places,” Greene Raine said.

In Canada, the maple syrup industry produced $349.5 million worth of maple syrup in 2011, according to figures from Statistics Canada, up from $291 million in 2010, an increase of 20 per cent.