Canada Organic Regime certification

Canada Organic Regime certification is the federal certification behind an organic claim on a food, seed or feed product. The CFIA says Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations applies if the product has an organic claim on its label and is sold between provinces or territories or imported, or if it displays the Canada Organic Logo. Buyers of organic farms and food brands meet it because the claim sits on a certificate held by a particular operator. The guide to buying a farm business covers the wider purchase.

How it works

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the regime regulates all parties involved in organic certification, including operators, certification bodies and conformity verification bodies. Under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, a person who wants a food commodity certified applies in writing to a certification body. The body must conduct an on-site verification and certify the commodity if it finds the requirements met. Section 342 limits the packaging and labelling of an organic product sent from one province to another to a person holding a certificate under section 345 or 348. Sections 349 and 350 cover suspension and cancellation.

What to check or ask

• Which certificates exist, who holds them and which products and activities each covers.
• Whether any suspension or cancellation notice has been issued.
• What the certification body requires after a change of owner or operator.