Standards for Organic Agriculture
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Note: These FAQs address only the process that the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) uses to revise the national standards. Other departments and agencies of the Government of Canada are responsible for addressing issues that are outside of the CGSB's mandate. Where the CGSB cannot provide an answer, it does indicate where further assistance may be obtained.
General FAQs on the CGSB
- What is the work of the CGSB?
The CGSB is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to develop National Standards of Canada in a broad range of subject areas and to administer certification programs for products, services, and quality and environmental management systems. Established in 1934, the CGSB is a charter participant in the National Standards System of Canada and a directorate of Public Works and Government Services Canada.
- What is a National Standard of Canada?
A National Standard of Canada is a document approved by the Standards Council of Canada that contains requirements and definitions for a specific product or activity. A National Standard of Canada can be developed by the CGSB or by another accredited member of Canada's National Standards System.
- How are standards developed and maintained?
See The Standards Development Process at the Canadian General Standards Board
- What is the CGSB's role in the development of standards?
The CGSB administers the standards development process by establishing and supporting balanced standards committees that represent producers, users, general interest and regulatory members, to arrive at voluntary consensus standards.
CGSB policies and procedures are followed in the development and maintenance of the voluntary consensus standards.
- Who can become a member of a CGSB standards committee?
All CGSB standards committee members are volunteers. Membership in a CGSB standards committee is open to any individual or organization that has a direct interest in the standards committee’s decisions, an expressed interest in standards development and the demonstrable ability to make an active contribution. The precise composition of each standards committee depends on the subject of the standard under development, but generally includes producers, users, general interest and regulatory representatives. A standards committee has two types of members: voting and information (non-voting). The CGSB strives to ensure that the representation from each category is balanced to prevent any single group from dominating the standards committee’s voting procedures.
- Who decides which standards committee members are voting or non-voting?
The CGSB grants voting status to those members requesting it, provided that this measure preserves balanced representation from producer, user, general interest and regulatory groups while ensuring regional representation.
It is CGSB policy that whenever possible organizations rather than individuals hold voting memberships in its standards committees. The CGSB strives to ensure that the voting membership of its standards committees represents Canadian national interests on trade, health and safety, and the environment.
FAQs on the Organic Production Systems Standards
- Why is it important to have Canadian standards on Organic Production Systems?
A single, consensus standard recognized by producers, users and government has many advantages. They include easy identification of product ingredients through labelling and common language, promotion of user confidence, and representation of a variety of views and expertise.
The aims of the Organic Production Systems standards are
- to protect consumers against deception and fraud in the marketplace, and unsubstantiated product claims;
- to protect producers of organic products against unsubstantiated claims or misrepresentation of other agricultural products as being organic;
- to ensure that all stages of production, preparation, storage, transportation and marketing are subject to inspection and comply with these standards;
- to harmonize Canadian provisions for the production, certification, identification and labelling of organic products with international ones.
- How did the CGSB become involved in the development of the standards?
See Organic Agriculture — History
- What was the number, title and publication date of the first edition of the standard?
CAN/CGSB-32.310, Organic Agriculture, was published in June 1999.
- What are the numbers, titles and publication dates of the current standards?
CAN/CGSB-32.310, Organic Production Systems — General Principles and Management Standards, and CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems — Permitted Substances List, were published in September 2006, amended in October 2008.
- Is the 2006 edition of the standards voluntary or mandatory?
All National Standards of Canada are voluntary standards. However, some CGSB standards have become mandatory because they are referenced in regulation by a regulatory body or in procurement schemes.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) developed and put in place the Organic Products Regulations. The 2006 edition of the standards is the foundation on which the national federal regulation is built, and is referenced in the new regulation.
- Who initiated the development and subsequent revisions of the national standards for organic agriculture?
See Organic Agriculture — History
- What do the standards cover?
CAN/CGSB-32.310, Organic Production Systems — General Principles and Management Standards, describes the principles and management standards of organic production systems.
This standard outlines the principles of sound organic farming systems throughout the production, processing, storage, transportation, labelling and marketing stages: the production of high quality food using sustainable management practices, which avoid damage to the environment, and ensure the ethical treatment of livestock.
The standard specifies criteria that must be met when food products and other inputs used in organic production are described as organic, including production, processing and handling of organically produced foods. These minimum requirements must be met or exceeded in order to meet this standard for organic agriculture.
The standard includes sections on Definitions and Terminology; Organic Plan, which includes Record Keeping and Identification; Crop Production; Livestock Production; Specific Production Requirements; Preparation and Handling of Organic Products; Emergency Pest or Disease Treatment; Labelling and Claims, and the Requirements for Adding or Amending Substances in CAN/CGSB-32.311.
The standard does not cover issues such as implementation and regulations, which are outside the scope of the Standard Committee on Organic Agriculture’s mandate.
CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems — Permitted Substances Lists, provides lists of substances that are allowed for use in organic production systems. It is not a list of commercial products.
- What substances are permitted and prohibited for use in organic agriculture?
CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems — Permitted Substances Lists, includes the following substances lists:
- Crop production including fertilizers, plant foods, soil amendments, crop production aids and materials, and weed management
- Livestock production including feed, feed additives and feed supplements, health care products and production aids
- Processing and sanitation including organic ingredients, non-organic ingredients and with organic ingredients, processing aids, cleaners, disinfectants and sanitizers, and pest control substances.
The application and use of these substances must be in accordance with the requirements outlined in CAN/CGSB-32.310, Organic Production Systems — General Principles and Management Standards.
- Why was the 2006 edition of the standards being revised?
At the completion of the two standards in 2006, a number of items still needed to be resolved and were placed on a Future Work List. Items on this Work List included the removal of references to and the discretion of certification bodies throughout the standard, clarification of technical requirements, and the addition of new technical requirements and substances to the Permitted Substances Lists. In December 2006, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada published the Organic Products Regulations. Additional changes to the standards are necessary because of this regulation.
FAQs on the Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture
- How were the current members of the Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture chosen?
All Committee members that revised the first edition of the standard were invited to continue as members. The CGSB then compiled an additional list of potential members using association indexes, government indexes, Web sites, conference information, media sources and discussion with the sponsor. The CGSB sent potential members a letter to invite their participation and their suggestions for membership.
- Who is on the Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture?
The Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture includes 90 technical experts representing user, producer, general interest and regulatory groups. Forty members of this Committee are voting members. The other technical experts are information members.
- Who chairs the Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture and how is the chairperson chosen?
The Standards Committee members select their own chairperson. The current Chairperson is Jean Duval. He is a representative from Bio-Action, a Quebec agri-environmental club that specializes in organic farming and provides advisory services to over 60 farms in the province.
FAQs on the Approval Process
- Who approves and promulgates the Organic Production Systems standards?
Approval of the technical elements of the standards is the responsibility of the CGSB Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture. Approval of the procedural elements of the standards is the responsibility of the CGSB Panel on Process Assurance. Approval of the standards as National Standards of Canada is the responsibility of the Standards Council of Canada.
- What does the voting process involve?
A draft standard is provided in a ballot to the voting members of the Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture. Approval of the draft standard by these voting members must be achieved by consensus. “Consensus” refers to the substantial agreement reached by voting members but does not necessarily imply unanimity. The consensus process includes an effort to resolve all objections.
See The Standards Development Process at the Canadian General Standards Board
- How can I obtain copies of the minutes of the Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture meetings or otherwise provide comments to Standards Committee members?
Minutes of the meetings can be obtained by writing to the Committee Secretary. Members of specific interest groups that would like to provide comments should contact the Standards Committee member who best represents their interest. Should no Standards Committee members adequately represent their interest, readers may wish to contact the CGSB directly, by writing to
Secretary, Committee on Organic Agriculture
Canadian General Standards Board
Gatineau, Canada
K1A 1G6
Fax: 819-956-5740
E-mail: ncr.cgsb-ongc@pwgsc.gc.ca
Other FAQs
- Do the Organic Production System standards affect Canada's trade agreements?
This question should be directed to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
- Do Canada's trading partners have to comply with the Organic Production System standards in order for their organic products to be accepted in the Canadian marketplace?
This question should be directed to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
- What requirements must be met to import or export organic products?
This question should be directed to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
- What other international requirements for organic agriculture exist?
Several international requirements exist, including those of the European Union Standard, the Japanese Agricultural Standards, the U.S. National Organic Program, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission “Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling, and Marketing of Organic Food.”
- What is the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission?
The Codex Alimentarius Commission develops international food standards to protect consumer health and to facilitate fair trade practices in foods. The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established in 1962 by the World Health Organization and by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- Where can I obtain information on the certification process and certification bodies?
This question should be directed to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
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