Your source for the latest information on "Canada Organic"
    
May 2013
COTA new office
At the beginning of May, COTA moved into its new long-term location in Ottawa. The new office is based out the office tower at the Royal Ottawa Hospital and shared with Fairtrade Canada and Canadian Organic Growers. The move is part of an effort to continue to strengthen relationships with similar organizations based in Ottawa. COTA’s mailing address and contact info remain unchanged.
April 2013
Organic Week 2013 Update
Organic Week 2013 sponsorships are now open. Join us and become a part of Canada’s biggest organic celebration! Coordinated by Canadian Organic Growers, COTA and Canadian Health Food Association, Organic Week has become the premier marketing campaign for reaching consumers, media and policy-makers in Canada. There are two levels of sponsorships, and benefits range from logo recognition on print and digital media to special advertising rates in the Globe & Mail. For further information, download the Sponsor Sheet.
Canadian Statistics
The results from the first phase of the Canada Organic Trade Association’s (COTA’s) Organic Marketplace Research project are now public. The data show that Canada’s organic market grew to $3.7 billion (Canadian dollars) in 2012, with national sales of certified organic food and non-alcoholic beverages reaching $3 billion. The data also determined that the sector’s growth is being driven by a diverse consumer base, with over half of all Canadians and two-thirds of British Columbians buying organic products every week. Further information and a pdf version of the preliminary results are available on the Statistics Page.
Canada-Costa Rica Equivalency
The Canadian Organic Office has announced the Canada-Costa Rica Organic Equivalency Arrangement. The arrangement will allow for easier import and export of certified organic products between Canada and Costa Rica without the need for additional certification, thus reducing costs and red tape. For further information on the recognition of equivalency with Costa Rica, visit the CFIA website.
March 2013
Canadian Standards Revision
COTA has learned that the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has reached a long-sought agreement with the Canadian General Standards Board to fund a full review and renewal of Canada’s organic standards and permitted substances list. By some estimates, the Canadian organic standards have over 300 active work-list items for consideration, and also require a full five-year review of all sections. The permitted substances list will also be fully reviewed. This is a major achievement. Over the past three years, COTA has made this the priority for all our exchanges with the government, including the Ottawa Parliament Day. SCC is said to be committing up to $600,000 over two years to the standards review. Stay tuned!
Organic Week welcomes new partner
The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) is joining Organic Week founders COTA and Canadian Organic Growers (COG) as a partner organization in 2013. CHFA is a membership-based association dedicated to natural health and organic products, with a strong retail membership. COTA, COG and CHFA will join efforts to coordinate Organic Week 2013 taking place Sept. 21-28. More details can be found in the official press release.
COTA at House of Commons
COTA’s Matthew Holmes testified before the Agriculture and Agri-Food Standing Committee at the House of Commons. The committee was taking comments on the Agricultural and Agri-Food Supply Chain, and specifically pertaining to Low Level Presence (LLP) of GMOs in imports. COTA has taken a strong position regarding the proposed allowance of 0.1 percent unapproved GM materials in non-GM imports. COTA has expressed concern that the organic sector will bear the disproportionate cost and exposure of the impact “downstream.” The proposed Canadian LLP allowance was submitted to the World Trade Organization last fall.
February 2013
COTA at Biofach 2013
COTA led a successful Canadian mission to BioFach 2013 this past week, with strong branding presence and many members exhibiting and walking the show. Matthew Holmes represented both OTA and COTA to present new information on the North American organic market and consumer, as part of a panel revealing findings of the 2013 edition of the World of Organic Agriculture, published by IFOAM and FiBL. At the presentation, Holmes forecast the combined North American organic market would be valued at $35 billion for the United States and $3 billion in Canada for 2012. Find the FiBL Press Release here.
Organic Week dates now Announced
The dates for organic week have now been announced. This year, our fourth annual celebration will be held Sept. 21-28. Organic Week is a unique opportunity for members of the organic sector in Canada to unite and create awareness on the benefits of organic agriculture and products. For more information visit the Organic Week website.
OVCRT Meetings
COTA attended the Organic Value Chain Round Table meetings the first week of February. Held in Ottawa, the meetings are attended by representatives of all levels of the organic sector to discuss issues such as branding strategy, consumer confusion and GMO issues. To find out more, visit the OVCRT website.
January 2013
COTA & COG To work closer
COTA and Canadian Organic Growers (COG) agreed to share office space in Ottawa to help streamline the operations of both associations whose members represent a cross-section of the full organic sector. COTA and COG expect this move will maximize efficiencies in addressing the needs of organic producers, processors, distributors and traders, as well as generate more effective messaging to consumers. Read the full press release here.
Canada-Swiss Organic Equivalency Agreement
Canada continued to chart new territory for international organic trade with the late-December announcement of an organic equivalency arrangement with Switzerland. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was quoted as saying: “This arrangement with Switzerland will eliminate trade barriers to give Canadian organic producers a competitive edge in the Swiss organic market. Canadian consumers will also benefit by having increased access to Swiss organic food options.” To find out more please visit the CFIA website.
CFIA defends Canada's Organic Regime
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s President George Da Pont wrote a response to misleading allegations on the legitimacy of organic products in Canada. The allegations, posted on the Spectator, focused on a recent article by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy titled “Canada’s Organic Food System is a Nightmare.” In his response, Da Pont highlights the Canadian regulatory requirements for organic certification and CFIA’s involvement in the process via monitoring and enforcement. The response also highlights CFIA-accredited certification bodies that are responsible for verifying that organic operators are producing organic products. To see the full response, visit the Spectator website.
December 2012
Safe Food for Canadians
On Nov. 20, the new Safe Food for Canadians Act was passed by the House of Commons. The Act consolidates the authorities of the Fish Inspection Act, the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the Meat Inspection Act, and the food provisions of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act. The Act was designed to protect consumers by targeting unsafe practices through a more consistent inspection of all foods, implementing tougher penalties for offenders, providing better control over imports and strengthening food traceability. Full information is available on the CFIA web site.
Canadian Organic Marketplace Research Program
The organic market in Canada is growing at a rate much faster than the conventional grocery sector, but a detailed analysis of market growth is lacking. COTA is responding to this information gap by launching the first comprehensive market study of the Canadian organic marketplace since the government regulated the sector in 2009.
This study will provide new sales data on organic grocery categories from fresh produce to packaged goods and will include sales figures for the primary distribution channels to provide a full picture of the Canadian organic market. COTA will also provide an analysis of consumer research that provides a deeper understanding of purchasing habits, attitudes towards organic and origin labels, as well as the demographics of key consumer groups in Canada.
View the Canadian Organic Market Research Factsheet for more information.
November 2012
Prairie Tour
COTA’s Matthew Holmes recently was in Saskatchewan and Alberta meeting with organic producers and processors from across the Prairies. Holmes was a keynote speaker at the Organic Connections Conference and Trade Show in Regina from Nov. 2-3. He then traveled to Edmonton to deliver a keynote address to the 2012 National Hemp Convention on developments in the organic sector, opportunities for producers to integrate hemp into their organic rotations, and new marketing initiatives.
Organic Sector Responds
COTA, along with 14 other signatories, wrote to The National Post in response to a Nov. 24th article highlighting an untruthful report about organic prepared by the Frontier Centre. You can view the letter here.
British Columbia leads on banning GMOs
On Nov. 19, the Council of Saanich, British Columbia, voted unanimously against the use of genetically modified seed crops within the District of Saanich. The Council further moved to write to the federal Minister of Agriculture, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and local Members of Parliament in support of mandatory labeling of GMO foods. Saanich is the seventh BC municipality to ban GM seed crops, joining Powell River, Nelson, New Denver, Kaslo, Rossland, and Richmond.
Safe food for Canadians
On Nov. 20, the new Safe Food for Canadians Act was passed by the House of Commons. The Act consolidates the authorities of the Fish Inspection Act, the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the Meat Inspection Act, and the food provisions of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act. The Act was designed to protect consumers by targeting unsafe practices through a more consistent inspection of all foods, implementing tougher penalties for offenders, providing better control over imports and strengthening food traceability. Full information is available on the CFIA web site.
October 2012
Parliament Day 2012
COTA and Canadian Organic Growers (COG) hosted the third annual Parliament day on October 23 in Ottawa. The most important preeminent policy and strategy event of the Canadian organic sector, Parliament Day unites policymakers, business leaders and members of the organic community to celebrate and discuss the sector. The highlight of the event was the special all organic reception held at the House of Commons and hosted by Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen.
Investment in Organics
Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced two investments to enhance Canada’s organic food industry’s competitiveness in global and domestic markets. The announcement, made during Parliament Day hosted by COTA and the Canadian Organic Growers (COG), included $180,000 to COTA from the AgriMarketing Program to participate in international trade shows, develop promotional materials, and build a long-term international strategy for the organic sector, and $152,000 from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program to the Organic Council of Ontario to enable producers to develop innovative tools and technologies to benefit the sector. To see the press release click here.
September 2012
Organic Week 2012
The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) and Canadian Organic Growers (COG) coordinated the third annual Organic Week which was a huge success. Hundreds of events took place across the country to celebrate the organic sector, companies launched new organic product lines, and both the province of British Columbia and Manitoba proclaimed the week of September 22-29 as Organic Week. COTA & COG officially thank all of our sponsors and supporters.
AgriMarketing Program meetings
COTA's Matthew Holmes was in Ottawa to attend the AMP/Trade Commissioner meetings. 43 trade commissioners from various markets attended, who congregated to discuss issues that affect national and international access and market trade. COTA attended to represent and discuss the issues that affect the organic sector.
Organics in the News
The Globe and Mail published its Organic Week special organic insert on September 26. The insert included GM issues as well as educational information. To download a copy of the insert, click here.
Archived COTA News and Activities
Return to the Canada Organic Trade Association page.
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