The use of the term “organic” is governed by federal legislation – Organic Products Regulations, 2009 (SOR/2009-176)

A full traceability system, organic certification helps ensure integrity of the organic product from field to table.

Certified organic foods are produced according to the organic principles that are internationally recognized:

1. Protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity and promote a sound state of health.
2. Maintain long-term soil fertility by optimizing conditions for biological activity within the soil.
3. Maintain biological diversity within the system.
4. Recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within the enterprise.
5. Provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of livestock.
6. Prepare organic products, emphasizing careful processing, and handling methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages of production.
7. Rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems.

When a product is “certified organic”, it is the consumers’ assurance that the product was grown and processed in accordance with these values, following the Standards and Regulations developed by Canada’s sector over a 20 year period.

The Canada Organic Standard is recognized by both the EU and the US as Equivalent- the only certification system to achieve this broad recognition. Organic certification is a traceability system, allowing us to track product from seed to plate to ensure the organic integrity of our foods.

Achieving organic certification is a reflection of your business’ commitment to sustainable agriculture principles. In order to become certified organic, a business must first learn about the CANADA ORGANIC STANDARD and how their farm, processing facility, or handling facility needs to adapt practice to meet the Standard.

Businesses must develop a fully auditable record keeping system allowing an inspector to trace product from seed to plate.

A certification body or “CB”, accredited by the federal government,  provides the certification services. Once the application is filled out an inspection of the farm or facility is arranged and an annual audit by a third party inspector is conducted. The “CB” reviews the recommendations of the inspector and grants certification if all the requirements are met.

Organic Permitted Substances List (Link Broken on Government website)

CAN/CGSB-32.311-2006, Organic Production Systems, Permitted Substances List (as incorporated by reference into the regulations and developed by the organic industry and the Canadian General Standards Board)

Download or From http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/ongc-cgsb/index-eng.html

Canada – US Equivalency Agreement

For an excellent overview of the agreement, please see our colleague’s Equivalency page at

Visit Organic Trade Association’s Equivalency Page

Label Guide 

Certification bodies inspect and designate farms as “certified organic” based on a set of guidelines meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements set out by the National Organic Standard. No prohibited materials may be used for 3 years prior to certification. Once a farm is certified organic, it labels its food with the name of the certification body or the certification number. At the moment, Canada is developing regulations for organic agriculture which will limit the use of the word “organic” on products and provide a “Canada Organic” logo to be displayed on organic products.

Other Related Regulations

All organic products are also subject to existing relevant regulations, including the following:

The Canada Agricultural Products (CAP) Act

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-0.4/ (english)

http://lois.justice.gc.ca/fr/C-0.4/ (français)

The Food and Drug Act

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/F-27/index.html (english)

http://lois.justice.gc.ca/fr/F-27/index.html (français)

 The Consumers Packaging and Labeling Act

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-38/index.html (english)

http://lois.justice.gc.ca/fr/C-38/index.html (français)