Yes. All COS certificates issued to operators by certification bodies whose names appear on the list of accredited bodies published by the CFIA for products from the country or countries within their geographic accreditation scope are accepted in Canada (including Québec). However, if certifiers want to certify products from Canadian operations, they must include Canada and Québec in their geographical accreditation scope by submitting an application to the CAEQ to extend the geographical scope.

For products to be considered as organic on the Canadian market, raw materials must be certified according to the COS requirements, to the Canada-USA Equivalency Arrangement or the Canada-EU Organic Equivalency Arrangement. 

The following regulations describe the general labelling requirements in Canada including the organic products;

• Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act
• Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations
• Food and Drugs Act
• Food and Drug Regulations
• Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising

In addition to the above, the Organic Product Regulations (OPR) prescribes the following requirements:

• The prerequisites for labels or advertisements of certified products, containing the words “organic”, “organically grown”, “organically raised”, “organically produced” or similar words (Section 24-1), as well as rules governing the use of the words “organic ingredients” (Section 24-2);
• Requirement for the name of the CB on the label (Section 25-a);
• The use of the logo on products (Section 23);
• The name of the country of origin (Section 25-c).

Yes. Since June 30, 2011, any incorrectly labelled packaging will face repressive measures from the CFIA if it does not meet the Canada Organic Regime requirements.

Yes but in a limited manner. In fact, a certification body can authorize an operator to use the Canada Organic Logo for marketed certified.  However, the certification body cannot authorize the use of the logo on materials other than labels. As a result, the operator must contact directly the Canada Organic Office in order to obtain the permission to use the Canada Organic logo on advertising, displays or any other media.

All certification bodies that appear on the list of accredited bodies published by the CFIA may authorize operators whose products have been certified according to Canadian standards, or in accordance with the terms of the Canada-USA or Canada-EU equivalency agreements, to use the Canada Organic Logo on their certified products that contain more than 95% organic ingredients..

In order to comply with the regulations and bear the Canada Organic logo, a final product must contain minimum 95% of the ingredients certified to the Canadian Organic Standards (or a standard deemed equivalent) or the Canada-USA Equivalency Arrangement . This implies that the remaining 5% can be certified to another standard or non-organic ingredients may be used (8.2.3 CAN-CGSB).

Under the Organic Products Regulations (OPR), organic products may be imported under the following conditions:

1. Certified to the Canadian Organic Standards by a body included on the accredited certification bodies list published by the CFIA;
2. Certified as organic in accordance with an agreement or arrangement entered into with another country regarding the import and export of organic products;
3. Certified as organic in accordance with an agreement or arrangement, described in 2, by a certification body that is recognized by a country to which the agreement refers and that must be included on the accredited certification bodies list published by the CFIA.

Canada signed an equivalency agreement with the United States in 2009 and an equivalency arrangement with the European Union in 2011 with different geographical scopes.

Following the memorandum issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on November 4, 2010, the USDA now endorses the organic certification of products from outside North America and intended for sale in Canada even if this certification was granted by a body initially accredited by the USDA. However, in order to be authorized for sale in Canada, these products must have been certified by an organization included on the accredited certification bodies list published by the CFIA.

Under the Canada-EU arrangement, only organic products from European Union member states may be imported into Canada without additional certification. In order to be accepted in Canada, products certified to European standards from third countries must be certified according to the Canada Organic Regime requirements.

All importers of organic products must be able to demonstrate, at all times, that the imported products meet the conditions set out above, according to the country of origin. Importers must retain all documents attesting to this fact. These documents may be verified by the accredited certification bodies during on-site verifications.

NOP-certified organic products, issued to operators from outside of Canada, are not accepted in Canada unless the NOP certificate is accompanied by a document that certifies that the product is compliant with the requirements of the 2009 US-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement.

On June 17, 2009 the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) exchanged letters confirming the equivalency of the two countries' organic programs with some exceptions called “critical variances”.

The Arrangement covers the accreditation system of both regulations in its geographical entirety meaning that agricultural products certified in compliance with the terms of the US-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement can be sold as organic in both countries. The product being traded under this arrangement does not have to originate within either country.

Following the June 2011 Canada-EU Organic Equivalency Arrangement, organic products originating from European Union member states are accepted in Canada without additional requirements other than those related to labelling. However, the CFIA will soon publish interpretations relating to this arrangement as to specify whether processed products to be accepted for sale in Canada may contain ingredients originating from EU countries only or also from third countries.

This agreement only applies to organic products from Canada or EU member states. In order to be sold in Canada or Europe, products certified according to European standards or the Canada Organic Regime in third countries must be re-certified.

Following the June 2011 Canada-EU Organic Equivalency Arrangement, organic products grown in Canada and certified by recognized certification bodies (Annex III of Regulation EC 1235/2008) may be exported to EU countries accompanied by a Control Certificate relating to the import of products derived from organic farming in the EU.

Organic products certified to Swiss organic standards are not accepted in Canada. In order to be marketed as “organic” within Canada, these products must be certified according to the requirements of the Canadian Organic Standards by a CFIA-accredited certification body whose geographic scope includes Switzerland.