Seeking Certification: A look at what it takes to receive organic certification in Canada.

The Canadian Government finally developed organic products regulations in December 2006 (the regulations become absolute law in December of 2008).

The Canadian Government finally developed organic products regulations in December 2006 (the regulations become absolute law in December of 2008). These regulations govern all Canadian businesses involved in international and interprovincial trade, along with any business looking to import its products into Canada.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (which governs and enforces the Organic Products Regulations), an organic product is an agricultural product that has been certified as organic. It can only be certified as such if it us produced according to methods detailed in the Nation Standard for Organic Production Systems.

Some of the methods and/or substances not deemed suitable for organic production by the regulations include anything produced by means of genetic engineering, synthetic pesticides, food additives such as sulphates, nitrates and nitrites, and equipment, packaging materials and storage containers, or bins that contain a synthetic fungicide, preservative or fumigant.

Find out everything you need to know on the Canadian General Standards website (http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-e.html) or on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency site. The Organic Trade Association (http://www.ota.com) is also another great source for help in sorting through the regulations.