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About Us Membership Standards About Organics Directory Resources
About Us Membership Standards About Organics Directory Resources

Standards

Organic Regulation
 
On December 14th, 2008 the new Canada Organic Products Regulations come into effect. The regulation will ensure that products using the word “organic” or displaying the “Canada Organic” logo are certified by a federally accredited certification body to the Canadian Organic Standards. The logo will only be permitted on products containing at least 95 percent organic ingredients.  The regulation applys to all organic products traded interprovincially or internationally. 
Organic Products Regulations
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently working on an amendment to the Organic Products Regulations.  This amendment should be gazetted by August 2008.  The Canadian Organic Products Regulations will come into force on December 14th, 2008.
Due to amendments made to EU import provisions on December 21, 2006, Canadian exporters of organic agricultural products are able to continue exporting to the EU. In the meantime, Canada has made a submission to the European Commission so that Canada can be added to the EU's list of approved third countries for the import of organic products, in order to secure longer term, permanent access to the EU organics market. 

Organic Quality Management Systems Manual
 
The Organic Quality Management Systems Manual contains the policies and procedures relevant to the Canada Organic Regime.  The manual outlines the requirements of the Organic Products Regulations, and describes the procedures that will be followed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Accreditation Advisory Bodies and Certification Bodies.


 Canada Organic Logo

 The new Canada organic logo will be available for use on products certified organic by a federally accredited certification body, following the approval of the proposed regulations.

Organic Standards
 
The organic regulations are built upon existing voluntary organic standards, which have been in effect since 1999. The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) is responsible for the development and update of the National Standard for Organic Agriculture. These standards describe how Canadian organic products should be produced, processed, labelled and marketed. The proposed organic products regulations will allow the Canadian government to enforce the guidelines set out by the National Organic Standards. The CGSB’s National Organic Standards outline the following principles:
  • protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity
  • replenish and maintain the long-term soil fertility by optimizing conditions for biological activity within the soil
  • maintain biological diversity for long-term sustainability
  • recycle materials and resources whenever possible
  • provide appropriate care to livestock to promote their health and behavioural needs
  • maintain the integrity of organic foods and processed products from initial handling to point of sale
  • use renewable resources in locally organized production systems 
The National Organic Standards consist of 2 main documents, revised September, 2006:
 
Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards
 
The Organic Permitted Substances List
           
  
Other Regulations
 
All organic products are also subject to existing relevant regulations, including the following:
 
The Canada Agricultural Products (CAP) Act
 
The Food and Drug Act
 
The Consumers Packaging and Labeling Act
 

 

 


Last Updated: 2008-08-14 09:09:35