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New US-Canada organic food agreement 18 Jun 2009
American Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that a first-of-its-kind agreement has been reached between the United States and Canada that will expand opportunities for organic food including meat in both countries.
The "equivalency agreement" follows a review by both nations of the other's organic certification program and a determination that products meeting the standard in the United States can be sold as organic in Canada, and vice versa. Merrigan made this announcement at the "All Things Organic Trade Show and Conference" in Chicago.
"The production of organic foods is a vibrant growth opportunity for American agriculture, and by agreeing on a common set of organic principles with Canada, we are expanding market opportunities for our producers to sell their products abroad," said Merrigan. "Today's agreement between the world's two largest organic trading partners is an important first step towards global harmonization of organic standards."
Under a determination of equivalence, producers and processors that are certified to the National Organic Program (NOP) standards by a US Department of Agriculture accredited certifying agent do not have to become certified to the Canada Organic Product Regulation (COPR) standards in order for their products to be represented as organic in Canada. Likewise, Canadian organic products certified to COPR standards may be sold or labeled in the United States as organically produced. Both the USDA Organic seal and the Canada Organic Biologique logo may be used on certified products from both countries. The COPR goes into effect on June 30.
Canada is the largest US trade partner and largest estimated export market for U.S. organic products. USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service office in Ottawa estimates that more than 80 percent of Canada's organic consumption comes from imports, and approximately 75 percent of those imports come from the United States. Organic produce and processed foods are estimated to make up the majority of US organic products exported to Canada. Estimates of the total market for organic products in Canada range from US$2.1 to US$2.6 billion; meanwhile sales of organic products in the United States totaled US$24.6 billion in 2008. Actual trade flows are difficult to track because the United States has not developed international harmonized system codes for organic products.
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