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Canadian Organic Regime
On
December 21, 2006, the Organic Products Regulations of Canada were published
bringing in requirements for another major market for organic produce where
before there were none (or at least not in a harmonised sense across the
territory).
The
main implications for certification bodies working within Canada is that
they will have to be formally accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) through one of a number of approved accreditors.
For
those certifying exports to the territory, access may either be through
equivalency recognition of a country conformity assessment system or by
direct accreditation.
The
full system is now intended to be implemented by June 30, 2009. Currently, the
Canadian authorities are finalising the system procedures and requirements
for certification bodies. On
February 14 the
amended
Organic Products Regulations 2009 of Canada were published in
the Canada Gazette. The regulation describes the system of accreditation
and certfication as well as including the new Canadian Organic Regime
logo.
The
regulation requires organic producers to be inspected by certification
bodies which are in turn assessed by accreditation bodies which have
themselves been approved by the CFIA.
The
IOAS was informed by letter dated April 10, 2008 that 'the Canada Organic
Office is satisfied with the level of compliance with the Canada Organic
Regime and would like to inform you that the next step from the recognition
of International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) as an accreditation
body under Canada Organic Regime is the signing of the agreement between
International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) and CFIA'.
The
current list of Conformity Verification Bodies (as Canada is calling the
bodies performing the accreditation assessment) that have applied for
designation under the Canadian Organic Regime can be viewed on the CFIA web
site
here.
As of April 16th, 2008 the IOAS is open for
applications from any certification body in the world to offer accreditation for access to
Canada.
An expected date for publication
of initial lists (one for those CBs active inside Canada and one for
those active outside) of approved certification bodies is May 2009.
Current list of certification bodies
under IOAS surveillance for accreditation against Part C of the Quality Management Systems
Manual of the Canadian Food Inpection Agency -
24kb
For
more information please go to our questions and answers
page on the COR.
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Last updated:
30/06/2009
The
Canadian Organic Regime commences on June 30, 2009. The IOAS are
offering voluntary accreditation for recognition against Part C of the
CFIA QMS using the Canadian Organic Production Systems General
Principles and Management Standards. See list of
control organisations under surveillance for this programme.
Ask
David Crucefix, our Assistant
Executive Director ,for more information on this
programme.
View
the Canada Organic Regulation
View the Quality Management Systems Manual 2008
(580kb)
IOAS Operating Manual for Accreditation against the
Canada Organic Regime
82kb
The Canadian Organic Standards
and Permitted Substances lists are available from
here |
