On March 5, 2009, dicentra attended the Canadian Organic Standards (COS) Training Workshop for Food Processors presented by the Organic Trade Association. The purpose of this workshop was to educate participants about the new Organic Product Regulations (OPR) that will be implemented on June 30, 2009 when the Standards become mandatory for interprovincial and international trade. The OPRs apply to food and drink, livestock, livestock feed, and plants represented as organic. The regulations DO NOT apply to natural health products, cosmetics, fish and seafood, aquacultural products, fertilizers, pet food, textiles, furniture, or products involved only in intra-provincial product movement.
The structure of the CORs is outlined below; The CFIA is the competent authority of the Canadian Organic Regime (COR) and enforces these regulations. The Canadian Organic Office (COO) administers the OPR and develops the policies and procedures of the COR. Conformity Verification Bodies (CVBs) are designated by the COO and have agreements with the CFIA to assess, recommend for accreditation, and monitor Certification Bodies. Certification Bodies (CBs) are organizations accredited by the CFIA to certify Organic Operators’ products to the COS. Lastly, Organic Operators produce and/or package and label products certified as in compliance with the procedures and principles outlined in the COS.
A product can be labeled as “Organic” if it contains 95% or more certified organic ingredients. A label can list that that a product contains X% organic ingredients if it contains 70 to less than 95% certified organic ingredients. If a product contains less than 70% organic ingredients it cannot make an organic label claim but can list which ingredients are organic in the ingredient panel. In addition, Organic products must follow the general principles of organic production which include demonstrating that an acceptable search for organic ingredients was made when non-organic ingredients are included in the product, and organic manufacturing principles such as protecting the environment and relying on local renewable resources.
Rely on dicentra to help you adhere to the Organic Product Regulations. Services we can offer you include interpretation of regulatory requirements, label reviews, label drafts, advising on permitted substances based on the organic category of your product , referrals to certification bodies, as well as guidance and comparisons of foreign regulations.
Dr. Regan Tessis, N.D.
416-361-3400 ext. 223
regan@dicentra.ca