COABC - Standards

COABC adopted the Canada Organic Standard as the standard for the BC Certified Organic Program as of Jan 1, 2009. Products certified as organic under a CB's Canada Organic Regime (COR) program and certified using the Canada Organic Standard are considered compliant with the federal COR Manual and Safe Food for Canadians Regulation (Part 13) and may display the Canada logo if desired. These products may also carry the BCCO checkmark. Organic products certified under a CB's Regional Program may only display the BCCO checkmark if compliant with the BCCO Program (see BCCOP Operator's Manual).

Organic products certified under a CB's Regional Program may only display the BCCO checkmark.

Management Standards for the BC Certified Organic Program

COABC publishes BCCOP Operator’s Manual: Organic Production Standards & the Labelling of Organic Products for the BC Certified Organic Program. These are the rules that apply in BC for the BC Certified Organic Program and for those who wish to use the BC checkmark. They are specific to that program and therefore all of the information is relevant to the Certification Bodies in the Regional Program. However, it is also expected that CBs in the COR program will also find the information helpful.

It does not provide all the details of the Canadian Production Standard which COABC has adopted as the standard for the BC Certified Organic program but provides extra guidance regarding certification procedures when applying the standard. It also includes the requirements for the labelling of certified organic product in the province.

The latest version of BCCOP Operator’s Manual: Organic Production Standards & the Labelling of Organic Products (pdf) can be downloaded by clicking here.

CANADA ORGANIC STANDARD DOCUMENTS

The current Canadian General Standards Board's Canada Organic Standard are available:

• CAN/CGSB 32.310 General Principles and Management Standards
• CAN/CGSB 32.311 Permitted Substances Lists
• CAN/CGSB 32.312 Aquaculture (COR Only)
• Standard Revisions image

A Guide to Understanding the Canadian Organic Standard written by the Canadian Organic Growers is a non-binding document that may assist producers in understanding the standards.

Standards Interpretation Committee Decisions

The Canadian Federal Inspection Agency (CFIA), collaborating with representatives of the organic sector, has created an advisory body; the Standards Interpretation Committee (SIC), to assist in the interpretation of the Canadian Organic Standard (CAN/CGSB 32.310, CAN/CGSB 32.311 and CAN/CGSB 32.312).

• Information about the committee and how it functions
• Final Questions and Answers regarding the Canadian Organic Standards
• Questions and Answers under Public Comment Period
• There is a 30-day comment period for newly proposed SIC Questions and Answers. To receive the drafts, sign up for the CanReg Listserve a cross country information sharing service. Click here to subscribe and here to remove yourself from the CanReg Listserve.

Operators should contact a certification body or email BCMA Organic Specialist karina.sakalauskas(a)gov.bc.ca for more information about the standards.