What are Canada’s Organic Standards?
The Canadian Organic Standards are a detailed set of principles, guidelines, and permitted substances that are used in the organic certification process. The use of the term “organic” is governed only by federal legislation. In Ontario there is no dedicated regulation of or legislation regarding use of the term “organic.”
The 2015 release of the Canadian Organic Standards includes Organic Principles and Management Standards, as well as Permitted Substances lists.
Canada’s Organic Standards are recognized as equivalent to the respective standards created by both the European Union and the United States.
Amendments to the Standards
Canada’s Organic Standards are under continual review in order to ensure that they remain up-to-date and incorporate ongoing organic research and other advances. The Organic Council of Ontario routinely solicits feedback from its members regarding such changes in order to communicate member concerns effectively to the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC).
To learn more about the Standards Review process and OCO’s role, read the following blog posts which are a part of OCO’s #YourStandardsYourSay series:
The Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) has provided a series of articles which explain the Canadian Organic Standards Review process and explore the proposed changes.
2020 Canadian Organic Standards Review
Funded with a contribution of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) has launched the review process that will culminate with the publication of the 2020 version of the Canadian Organic Standards by November 2020.
The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has released the draft version of the revised Canadian Organic Standards. Public comments will be accepted until September 30, 2019. Read more about the proposed changes.
The standards are presented in two versions: one version contains the text of the current 2015 Standard with tracked changes; suggested deletions are crossed out and additions are underlined. This will allow you to see exactly what the proposed changes are. The other “clean” version displays the standard as if all the proposed changes have been accepted.
CAN/CGSB-32.310 Organic Production Systems: General Principles and Management Standards
> with tracked changes
> clean version
CAN/CGSB-32.311 Organic Production Systems: Permitted Substances Lists (PSL)
> with tracked changes
> clean version
Webinar on the Standards Review Changes
OCO hosted a webinar on key changes to the Canadian Organic Standards with representatives from the Working Groups. Watch the webinar below:
#YourStandardsYourSay Presentation Slides
Submit a Comment
If you are an organic farmer, producer, processor or retailer, OCO is your link to the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC). We provide feedback, suggestions, and voice member concerns regarding regulatory changes to the OFC on an ongoing basis.
OCO is collecting comments on the proposed changes to the Canadian Organic Standards from our members to pass along to the CGSB and to inform our position with relation to future revisions. OCO is a voting member of the CGSB Technical Committee, represented by Simon Jacques. If you wish to voice a concern or ask a question about the proposed changes, please fill out the form below. Your message will be received and responded to by Simon Jacques, an OCO board member, Independent Organic Inspector, and past member of the OFC’s working group on crop inputs.