On June 17, 2009, the Government of Canada entered into an agreement on the trade of organic products with the United States. Below are copies of letters exchanged between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and United States Department of Agriculture.
Dear Ms. Robinson
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has reviewed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s organic certification program as set out in the United States Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and National Organic Program Regulations.
Based on that review, I have determined, pursuant to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act and the Canada Agricultural Products Act that agricultural products produced and processed in accordance with the United States Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and National Organic Program Regulations as in effect on June 30, 2009, are produced and processed under an organic certification program that provides safeguards and guidelines governing the production and processing of such products that are at least equivalent to the requirements of the Canadian Organic Products Regulations, 2009 (OPR 2009).
Accordingly, except as provided in Appendix 1, and subject to the conditions set forth in Appendix 2, agricultural products produced and processed in conformity with the United States Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and National Organic Program Regulations as in effect on June 30, 2009 shall be deemed to have been produced and processed in accordance with the OPR 2009 and Canada's Organic Program and may be sold, labeled or represented in Canada as organic, including by display of the Canadian organic logo as well as the USDA organic seal.
The CFIA's Canada Organic Office (COO), which administers the OPR 2009, is committed to working with the USDA to carry out the terms of this letter.
Sincerely,
Karen McIntyre
Executive Director
Agrifood, Meat, Seafood Safety Directorate
1400 Merivale Road T1-4-239
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
The CFIA grants this equivalency determination under the following conditions:
Dear Ms. McIntyre,
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reviewed Canada's organic certification program as set out in the Canada Organic Regime.
Based on that review, I have determined pursuant to the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) (7 U.S.C. Section 6501 et seq.) under authority delegated to me that agricultural products produced and handled in Canada in accordance with the Canada Organic Production Regulations (COPR), as in effect on June 30, 2009 are produced and handled under an organic certification program that provides safeguards and guidelines governing the production and handling of such products that are at least equivalent to the requirements of OFPA.
Accordingly, except as provided in Appendix 1, and subject to the conditions set forth in Appendix 2, agricultural products produced and handled in Canada in conformity with the COPR, as in effect on June 30, 2009 shall be deemed to have been produced and handled in accordance with the OFPA and USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) and may be sold, labeled or represented in the United States as organically produced, including by display of the USDA organic seal as well as the Canadian organic seal.
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which administers the NOP, is committed to working with the CFIA to carry out the terms of this letter.
Sincerely,
Barbara C. Robinson, Ph.D.
Deputy Administrator
Transportation & Marketing Programs
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
USDA grants this equivalency determination under the following conditions: