The Canadian Organic Standards and Regulations
The Canadian organic sector is regulated by the Organic Products Regulations (OPR).
The OPR empowers the Canadian Organic Standards (COS), which came in to effect on June 20, 2009 and define specific requirements for food, feed and seed products labelled as organic.
The Standards apply to any agricultural product if it:
- Has an organic claim and is used in import, export or inter-provincial trade; or,
- Bears the federal “Canada Organic Logo”
The Standards are composed of two parts:
- General Principles and Management Standards (CAN/CGSB-32.310-2015 Amended 2018)
- Permitted Substances Lists (CAN/CGSB-32.310-2015 Amended 2018)
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the regulatory body who oversees, monitors and enforces the requirements of the Canada Organic Regime.
For help understanding the Canadian Organic Standards, check out COG’s Guide to the Canadian Organic Standards.
Federal vs. Provincial Regulations
The Organic Products Regulations do not apply to products labelled as organic which are sold within a province or territory.
This doesn’t mean anyone can sell anything they want as organic within a province. The reasons?
One – Provincial Regulations.
Several provinces have implemented provincial legislation, regulating the use of the term “organic” for all food products grown or processed.
Two – The Federal Food and Drugs Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act.
These two acts protect consumers’ rights to truthful information and allow the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to investigate complaints. Operations cannot misrepresent products in terms of their “character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety”. This would include false, misleading or deceptive organic claims.
Organics by Province
Provincial Regulation: Yes.
The Supporting Alberta’s Local Food Sector Act enables several supports for locally produced agricultural products in Alberta. It creates Local Food Week, empowers the establishment of the Local Food Council, and applies an organic product labeling regime to products that are both produced and sold in Alberta. It also creates a complaint and enforcement process for such organic products, as well as creating offenses and penalties.
Certifying Bodies: Organic Alberta’s Active Certifying Bodies List
Organizations:
Provincial Regulation: Yes.
- The British Columbia Certified Organic program (BCCOP). The BCCOP is a voluntary agri-food quality program sanctioned by the Government of British Columbia through the Organic Agricultural Products Certification Regulation under the Agri-Food Choice and Quality Act.
- The ‘Checkmark’ logo is the official mark/symbol of the BCCOP program. It, along with the phrase ‘British Columbia Certified Organic’, can be used to identify products produced in BC containing 95-100% certified organic ingredients, and are certified by COABC accredited Certification Bodies.
- Moving to a mandatory regulation effective November 2018 under the BC Food and Agricultural Products Classification Act.
- This change in regulation will require all food and beverage products having the word “organic” on the label or in marketing to be certified. Find more about the new regulations
Certifying Bodies: Selecting a certification body (for BC) prepared by the COABC
Organizations:
COABC – Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia
Government of British Columbia Department of Farming, Natural Resources and Industry
Provincial Regulation: Yes.
In 2013 Manitoba enacted The Organic Agricultural Products Act which enforce the national Organic Products Regulations.
Certification Bodies: List of Certification Bodies accredited by the CFIA in Canada
Organizations:
Provincial regulation: Yes.
In 2015 Nova Scotia enacted Organic Grade Regulations under the Agriculture and Marketing Act which enforce the Canadian Organic Standards within the province. The regulations are administered and enforced by the Natural Products Marketing Commission
Certification Bodies: Government of Nova Scotia Regional Certification Bodies List
Organizations: Natural Products Marketing Commission
Provincial Regulation: No.
Certification Bodies: List of Certification Bodies accredited by the CFIA in Canada
Organizations: None.
Provincial Regulation: No.
Certification Bodies: List of Certification Bodies accredited by the CFIA in Canada
Organizations: None.
Provincial Regulation: No.
Certification Bodies: List of Certification Bodies accredited by the CFIA in Canada
Organizations: None.
Provincial Regulation: Yes.
The NB Farm Products Commission regulates and enforces the Canadian Organic Standards which are enforced under the New Brunswick Organic Grade Regulation as part of the Natural Products Act (2014).
Certification Bodies: List of Certification Bodies accredited by the CFIA in Canada
Organizations:
New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Organic Development
Provincial Regulation: No.
Certification Bodies:
List of Certification Bodies accredited by the CFIA in Canada
Organizations: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – Organic Agriculture
Provincial Regulation: No.
Certification Bodies:
List of Certification Bodies accredited by the CFIA in Canada
Organizations:
Provincial regulation: Yes.
Quebec was the first province to enact and regulate mandatory organic certification. It is enforced under the Act Respecting Reserved Designations and Value-Added Claims (2006).
Quebec has its own organic brand, Bio Quebec, which can be used to identify products produced in Quebec containing 95-100% certified organic ingredients, and are certified by CARTV accredited Certification Bodies.
Certification Bodies: List of Accredited Certification Bodies for Québec
Organizations:
L’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA)
Conseil des appellations reserves et des termes valorisants (CARTV)
Provincial Regulation: No.
Certification Bodies: SaskOrganics Certification Body List
Organizations: None