News: Canadian Regulations for Organic Logo-Products certified before June 30, 2009

We just received this information and we’re passing it on…

A message from the COO - Un message du BBC

From: Stephane O'Neil

Program Officer, Canada Organic Office, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Agent de programme, Bureau Bio-Canada, Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments
1400 Merivale  | 1400, rue Merivale Ottawa ON K1A 0Y9
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada
www.inspection.gc.ca

The information below is from the CFIA regarding regulations that come into force on the use of the Organic logo on products certified before the Organic Products Regulations, 2009 .

Question:  Can an organic product, with an organic content of 95% or greater, certified by an accredited CB to a standard other than the Canadian Organic Standards (including standards of a foreign country or the Quebec organic standard) bear the logo after June 30, 2009?

Answer:  

Before answering, please note that one of the principles behind implementing the Canada Organic Regime is to incorporate existing organic structures, where possible, under identified criteria. This was done to establish a smooth transition from a voluntary organic certification system to an organic regulatory regime.

With that in mind, the answer is yes. 

Agricultural products certified:

• as organic by a Certification Body whose accreditation is recognized under the regulations (i.e., recommended by a designated conformity verification body or a by a competent authority with whom the Government of Canada has an agreement with); and
• before the Organic Products Regulations come into force on June 30, 2009…

will meet the requirements of the regulations and may bear the logo after the regulations come into force on June 30, 2009.

This is based on the principle that the product may already comply with the requirements of the Canadian Organic Standards, or that if they don’t, the operator is working with their Certification Body to comply with the standards for the next certification. It should be noted, so that their products may continue to the bear the logo, the operator should be working with their certification body to comply with the Canadian Organic Standards. The Canada Organic Regime’s Stream of Commerce and Enforcement Policy will be revised to reflect this.