Food > Organic Production System Task Force 

ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM TASK FORCE (OTF)

- UPDATE -

PROPOSED ORGANIC PRODUCTS REGULATIONS PUBLISHED FOR COMMENT IN CANADA GAZETTE, PART 1

The proposed Organic Products Regulations were published in Canada Gazette, Part 1 on September 2, 2006 for a 75-day comment period. Interested persons may review the draft regulations and provide written comment to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency up to November 16, 2006.

The proposed regulations, which follow comprehensive nationwide consultations with governments, stakeholder groups and individuals, would govern the use of a new federal organic agricultural product legend (or logo) and would include mandatory certification requirements for organic products in Canada.

The regulations aim to protect consumers from deceptive and misleading labelling practices and to facilitate trade of certified Canadian organic products into Canadian and foreign markets - thus increasing opportunities for organic producers to respond to new and niche markets.

When established, the organic regulatory regime will help consumers better understand the meaning of the term organic and will increase consumer confidence that organic products meet recognized organic production standards.

The regulatory framework reflects the key principles for the envisioned regulatory regime that attained wide-scale agreement from stakeholders and provincial partners during consultations. The anticipated regime would build upon existing organic production systems by applying federal oversight to accreditation and certification bodies that meet the regulatory requirements. Certification to the revised Canadian standard for organic agriculture would be mandatory for interprovincial trade in organic products or for products bearing the federal organic logo. All persons preparing, distributing, retailing, importing and exporting organic products would be required to comply with the regulations. Compliance and enforcement activities would be carried out by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The proposed regulations were developed by the Organic Production System Task Force, a joint team of specialists from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Throughout 2005 and 2006, the task force has worked towards the development of an organic regulatory regime for effective consumer protection and to facilitate trade.

Throughout the consultation and development process, the Organic Production System Task Force received valuable assistance, input and co-operation from numerous stakeholder groups and associations; individuals and enterprises; and from provincial and territorial government partners. The Organic Regulatory Committee provided constant feedback to the task force and facilitated many opportunities for idea and information exchange with stakeholders across the country. The Organic Regulatory Committee was established through the Canada Organic Initiative Project of the Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia with the mandate to provide impetus toward the establishment of a regulation for managing the marketing of organic products in Canada. The ongoing dialogue resulted in a proposed policy framework that would respond to the needs and concerns of both industry and consumers in a fair and efficient regime.

The organic sector is presently forming a representative council to interact with the government on regulatory issues. Additionally, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has begun work with the industry on the creation of an organic sector roundtable to help steer the future direction of organic agriculture and marketing in Canada.

The proposed Organic Products Regulations are available for review on the CFIA Website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/consultation/20072_e.shtml.

The proposed Organic Products Regulations are also available for review on the Canada Gazette Website at: http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-e.html.

The public may provide written comment on the proposed Organic Products Regulations for up to November 16, 2006 to:

Dr. Bashir Manji,
Canadian Food Inspection Agency,
59 Camelot Drive,
Ottawa, ON
CANADA
K1Y 0Y9

A draft Quality Management System manual for the Canada Organic Regime has been developed in parallel to the proposed Organic Products Regulations. The manual details operational procedures and methods for administering the regulatory authorities. Interested persons may acquire a copy of the manual by contacting:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency,
Organic Production System Task Force
Room 1073,
59 Camelot Drive,
Ottawa, ON
CANADA
K1A 0Y9

E-mail inquiries: OrganicTF@inspection.gc.ca.