   
Breaking News! The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reached an agreement to make the Canadian organic standards publicly available (follow links below). OTA in Canada has written the government to thank them on behalf of the organic sector, new entrants to organic agriculture, and consumers.
Regulations:Organic Products Regulations (2009) - Outline the mandatory regulations for organic food products that cross provincial or national borders. Available in French, or as a PDF (2.39MB) on page 98 of 238.
Standards:General Principles and Management Standards CAN/CGSB-32.310-2006 (Updated for December 2009) Permitted Substances List CAN/CGSB-32.311-2006 (Updated for December 2009) Both documents are available free of charge on the Canada General Standards Board website To suggest any additions, subtractions, or ammendments to the Permited Substances List, fill out and submit the following form: English / French.
Standards Interpretation Committee:
This elected committee provides the Canadian regulator with interpretive guidance on standards issues. SIC interpretations are subject to a 60-day comment period, at which point they are adopted by the CFIA. Questions or comments regarding the standards or SIC interpretations should be directed to the attention of Elizabeth Corrigan, Regulatory Standards Officer, at OPR.RPB@inspection.gc.ca
March 3, 2010 SIC interpretations (PDF).
Equivalency Agreement:Canada/US Equivalency Determination Agreement - The historic agreement of bilateral recognition of the US National Organic Program and the Canadian Organic Regime as equivalents.
CFIA Stream of Commerce & Enforcement Policy:
Stream of Commerce and Enforcement Policy - A document that outlines how the CFIA will transition from the old voluntary organic certification to the new mandatory organic certification system.
Approved Certifiers:
CFIA maintains the official list of approved certifiers, by country. See the list here.
Canada Organic Office Operating Manual:
To view this manual detailing the administration and enforcement of the OPR, please visit the CFIA's organic site for the COO Operating Manual
Other:
Matthew Holmes and Katherine DiMatteo (Wolf, Dimatteo + Associates) presented the following powerpoint on the regulations and standards in Canada at Expo East 2008.
For a look at OTA in Canada's past involvement in the development and implementation of the Organic Products Regulations Check out our Regulations/Standards History Page.
For more information on Canada's Standards, PSL, or OPR, contact Matthew Holmes at mholmes@ota.com
Return to OTA in Canada.
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