About OTA in Canada

On March 1, 2006 OTA’s Board of Directors voted to move forward with OTA-Canada. This fulfills a long-term goal of OTA to create a stronger presence in Canada and to better serve its Canadian membership. OTA has always had members on its board from Canada and even two Canadian presidents.

In November 2004, OTA opened its first office in Ottawa, Canada, sharing space with the Canadian Organic Growers. In the spring of 2007 OTA hired a managing director, Canada, and it has since expanded to three offices: in New Brunswick, Ottawa and British Columbia.

OTA in Canada continues to bring the voice of Canada's organic producers, processors and other stakeholders to government throughout the implementation of Canada's new Organic Products Regulations. OTA in Canada sits on the technical advisory committee to the Canada Organic Office within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the body responsible for administering and enforcing Canada's new regulatory regime. OTA also serves on the Committee on Organic Agriculture at the Canadian General Standards Board (the voting body responsible for Canada's organic standards), on Agriculture Canada's Organic Value Chain Roundtable, on the ad hoc organic importers advisory committee to government, and holds the trade seat on the Organic Federation of Canada. 

Planning the next steps in regulation, to encompass organic fiber, personal care products, pet foods, lawn and garden products, and other agricultural-based non-food products which are certified organic.

Representing the entire organic sector to government and the public. Promoting and protecting the integrity of organic products in the marketplace and media.

Responding to members' calls and letters regarding issues affecting their businesses, whether they are farmers, processors, or marketers.

Working with Statistics Canada and Agriculture Canada to develop and expand current data on Canada's organic sector, including new studies to measure organic production and trade, the Census of Agriculture, and the expansion of Canada's Harmonized Serial Codes for organic products.

For OTA in Canada's most recent activities, visit the OTA Canada page.

The most current information on Canadian regulatory, standards and industry developments delivered to OTA members via member publications and news sources, always flagged by a maple leaf.

OTA gives interviews, provides background information and issues news releases to Canadian media, industry sector newsletters and academics. In the past year, OTA in Canada has provided expert services to CBC, The Globe & Mail, CTV's Canada AM, Walrus Magazine, Maclean's Magazine, Global News, The Vancouver Sun, The Ottawa Citizen, The Western Producer, Canadian Meat Business, Today’s Parent, Organic Processing, Organic & Wellness News and Organic Lifestyle Magazine.

OTA has built cooperative relationships with the federal and provincial governments and with other national, provincial and regional organic sector organizations. Canadian Organic Growers presented OTA’s position paper on organic regulation to the Senate Agricultural Committee on Earth Day 2004 in Ottawa, a partnership which has led to the current regulatory regime in Canada.