Food > Organic Production System Task Force 

PHASE ONE FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM TASK FORCE NEARS COMPLETION

March 2005
Volume 1, Issue 2
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The research and fact finding stage of the Organic Production System Task Force (OTF) mission is nearing completion. Formed in November 2004, the joint Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Canadian Food Inspection Agency task force is responsible for the recommendation and implementation of a fair and effective inspection and standards regime for organic production in Canada.

The OTF has been compiling and examining available facts and figures on Canada’s organic industry, as well as undertaking and assigning new research into aspects of the industry not yet fully documented. Studies are currently being finalized on existing accreditation organizations and certification bodies and comparisons of current Canadian, European and American standards for organic production are underway. A cost-benefit analysis of possible options for an organic regime is slated for completion at the end of March.

In addition to the quantitative research activity, the task force has been talking with representatives of all sectors of the industry across the country - from small market gardeners to large-scale producers; from providers of organic certification, to processors, retailers and exporters.

“Gaining stakeholder input through person-to-person meetings is a fundamental activity in the regulation-making process,” says Project Director Joe Southall. “We must ensure we have taken into account the issues, concerns and suggestions of the industry as well as those of the consumer.” To that end, the OTF has been consulting not only through formal avenues, such as the government / industry Information and Working Session held in January in Guelph, but also informally, on people’s farms and processing facilities.

The task force is also speaking with the provincial governments as to their interest and ability to participate in a national regime. “There is avid interest from those provinces that already have organic production standards and systems in place,” says Southall. “We plan to work with those provinces and co-operatively build upon those systems.”

A credible national regime is necessary to enhance consumer protection and to satisfy emerging international trade requirements.

In early February, an OTF delegation traveled to Washington D.C. to learn from the American experience in rolling out its National Organic Program (NOP). “The U.S. team was tremendously open and helpful,” says task force member Gary Briggs. “They shared with us some lessons learned which we will certainly find useful as we plan and implement the Canadian organic program”

For e-mail inquiries: OrganicTF@inspection.gc.ca

OTF Update is a monthly bulletin prepared and edited by Vivienne Laxdal. Suggestions for content and improvements to this publication are welcome: laxdalv@inspection.gc.ca

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