Transcript No Slide Title

An Update on Canada’s Organic
Regime
March 10, 2011
© 2007 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada
(Canadian Food Inspection Agency), all rights reserved. Use without permission is prohibited.
CFIA Overview
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Who we are
The CFIA is mandated to safeguard Canada’s food
supply and the plants and animals upon which safe
and high-quality food depends.
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Our vision and mission
Our vision is to excel as a science-based regulator,
trusted and respected by Canadians and the
international community.
We are dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and
plants, which enhances the health and well-being of
Canada’s people, environment and economy.
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Our goals
• Protect Canadians from preventable health risks
• Protect consumers through a fair and effective food,
animal and plant regulatory regime that supports
competitive domestic and international markets
• Sustain the plant and animal resource base
• Contribute to the security of Canada’s food supply
and agricultural resource base
• Provide sound agency management
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Managing food safety risks
The CFIA…
• Enforces food safety and nutritional quality
requirements of food sold in Canada*
• Verifies industry compliance with federal acts and
regulations
• Encourages science-based risk management
• Operates emergency response system
• Approximately 350 food recalls are managed each year
*policies and standards are set by Health Canada
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Protecting consumers and the marketplace
from unfair practices
For example, the CFIA…
• Enforces standards for food labelling
• Verifies compliance with Seeds Act
• Testing and inspection of seeds for trueness to type, purity,
germination, quality and disease
• Provides legal protection to plant breeders for new
plant varieties for up to 18 years
• Monitors fresh fruits and vegetables for safety and
wholesomeness, compliance with grade, packaging
and labelling requirements, and marketing to avoid
marketplace deception
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Organic Products Regulations, 2009
(OPR)
• Came into effect June 30, 2009
• Objectives
• Effective consumer protection against deceptive
and misleading labelling practices
• Development of the domestic market – Creating a
level playing field for all.
• Continued market access - agreements
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What was needed to the Organic Products
Regulations?
Organic Federation of Canada
Cost Benefit
Consumer Demand
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Organic Federation of Canada
Growth Rate
# Certified Growers
Retail Value - $
Imports – 80 percent
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Cost Benefit Study
Growers, Producers
Processors, wholesalers, retailers, exporter
Consumers
Federal and Provincial Governments
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Consumer Demand
Confusion of the Canadian Consumers
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What do the Organic Products Regulations
do?
Regulations require mandatory certification to
Canada’s Organic Standards
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Are non food products, such as aquaculture
products, cosmetics, fibres, health care products
etc. included in the Canada Organic Regime?
Food products, animal feed and products used for the
cultivation of plants.
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How is the Canada Organic Regime
Structured
Canada’s Organic Regime is based on third-party
service delivery
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How do the Regulations affect the organic
industry?
Restrictions on International and inter-provincial trade
of Organic Products
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Who enforces the Regulations?
CFIA enforces the Regulations
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Incorporation by reference of Standards
The incorporation by reference of these Standards is
dynamic in nature, meaning that any changes to the
Standards will not necessitate an amendment to the
OPR 2009
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What are the requirements for imported
products?
Under the OPR, organic products may be imported
under the following conditions:
Certified to COS
Certified in accordance with a trade agreement
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What is Equivalency Determination
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How are negotiations for EQ agreements
prioritized
Government of Canada initiated negotiations on a
priority basis with our key trading partners
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What are the benefits of an
Equivalency Agreement
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Equivalency Agreement
The OPR allow for Canada to EQ agreements with
foreign countries
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An import-export agreement that deems both the foreign
country's conformity assessment system, as well as its
standards, as being equivalent to requirements of the
domestic regulations.
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Under this scenario, an imported product would be certified
through the foreign country's conformity assessment system
to the foreign standards (with exceptions where applicable)
and would be considered to meet the importing country's
requirements.
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Equivalency Process
Steps:
1. Submission/application
2. Document exchange
3. Comparison of each country’s regime:
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Administration
Regulations
Accreditation and Certification
Standards and PSL
Monitoring and Enforcement
4. Negotiate list of variances
5. Agree on the variances
6. Prepare agreement
7. Signing of agreement
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What happens after an Equivalency
Agreement has been signed?
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Canada- U.S. Arrangement
Canada and the U.S. agreed to recognize our
national organic systems as equivalent with
the following exclusions:
Imports from the United States into Canada
1.may not be produced with the use of sodium
nitrate
2.may not be produced by hydroponic or
aeroponic production methods
3.must be produced according to Canadian
livestock stocking rates
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Canada- U.S. Arrangement
Canada and the U.S. agreed to recognize our
national organic systems as equivalent with
the following exclusions:
Exports from the Canada into U.S.
Agricultural products derived from animals
treated with antibiotics shall not be marketed
as organic in the United States
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Conditions Canada agreed to under the
US- Canada Equivalency Agreement
1. CFIA must notify the USDA of:
- Changes to certification bodies
- Proposals to change our Regulation or Act
- Significant non-compliance with Organic Certification
2. CFIA must permit the USDA to conduct on site
evaluations of the Canada Organic Regime
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Issues Arising from the Agreement
Exclusions to Arrangement
Directives
Lists of Accredited Certification Bodies
Common wording for Export documentation
NOP certification in Canada
Use of Logo – other labelling claims
On site evaluation
Communication Strategy
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Future work with the United States on the
Equivalency Agreement
Remove of the Critical Variances
Develop an Organic Management Information System
Improve Communication/ Public Awareness
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Status – Other Countries
Europe – Peer Review
Costa Rica – Comparison step
Japan – Comparison step
Australia – Comparison step
Korea – Extension of implementation date
Chile – Application step
Mexico – Application step
Swiss – awaiting EU results (application step)?
Taiwan – Accepted Canada’s Regime
Others
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References and Contacts
Organic Products Regulations:
• CFIA Website: www.inspection.gc.ca
• Canada Gazette Website: www.canadagazette.gc.ca
• send comments to : [email protected]
Organic Production Systems Standards:
• Canadian General Standards Board Website:
www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb
• Contact:
Michel Saumur, Manager, Canada Organic Office
(613) 773-6218 [email protected]
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