Your source for the latest information on "Canada Organic"
    
COTA Consultations
COTA recently advocated against any loosening of current government regulatory oversight or review on LLP (low level presence) thresholds for unapproved GMO’s shipped into Canada. You can download COTA’s formal submission here
COTA also wrote in favour of CFIA draft guidelines to restrict the use of “natural” claims on meat products, suggesting that such claims in Canada are currently unregulated, do not meet standards or consistent definitions, and are causing widespread consumer confusion. Anyone wishing to see COTA’s formal submission can find it here
Holmes elected to IFOAM World Board
COTA Executive Director Matthew Holmes has been elected to the World Board of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). One of 20 candidates, Holmes was elected on the first ballot with the support of the majority of attending delegates. He is the only representative from North America on the ten-person Board. "Organic agriculture offers compelling answers to the complex issues facing the world today - whether hunger, land sovereignty, environmental degradation or the threat of GMO's in the food chain. I am proud to be part of the organic movement, and will work to ensure our voice is heard", Holmes said in an OTA press release. IFOAM is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic movement, uniting more than 750 member organizations in 116 countries.
Globe and Mail insert
The Globe and Mail published a special feature on Friday, Oct. 14, to help celebrate Organic Week. The “Go Organic” section includes a call for a “100-year diet” by COTA Executive Director Matthew Holmes, a Q & A with Maria Rodale (author of the Organic Manifesto), and informative sections on the Canadian organic market and GMO issues as well as consumer information on how to choose organic on a budget. You can find the insert here
Organic Week 2011
The celebration took place this October 15-22. To find out more click here.
You can also follow us on Twitter or Facebook for real-time updates as we prepare for the Second Annual National Organic Week.
Official CFIA Notice
Michel Saumur of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Canada Organic Office sent out an official notice to all Canadian exporters. The letter seeks to clarify the impact of the 2009 Canada-US Equivalency Agreement and what that means for Canadian exporters.
The document may be downloaded here in English or French.
Canada Label Guide Published
COTA has recently published The Guide to Organic Labelling in Canada, an essential step-by-step guide to labelling organic products in Canada. The document, reviewed by the CFIA's Canada Organic Office, contains information for companies looking to prepare packaging and promotional materials compliant with Canada's mandatory Organic Products Regulations (OPR) and labelling laws. It is recomended for anyone importing organic products into Canada under its organic equivalency arrangements with the U.S. and EU.
COTA members receive approximately 70% off the price of the Guide, which can be ordered from the OTA bookstore.
EU-Canada Equivalency
The European Union (EU) and Canada have reached an agreement on organic equivalency. The agreement builds upon the EU third country list and involves mutual recognition of products from the two jurisdictions. Modeled on the U.S.-Canada agreement, Canadian and European certified operators will be able to trade and use each other’s organic logos. COTA’s Matthew Holmes has called it a “game-changer” and is discussing details of the agreement with CFIA. Find more information here.
Read more about our recent news and activities in Canada.
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*opens The Organic Pages Online in a new window
Any Canada Organic Trade Association member or OTA member that does business in Canada may subscribe to the COTA e-mail list serve by writing tyoung@ota.com. If you are a member, click here for more information about OTA Canada's development and operations.
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