Organic Labelling Issues Craig Johnston CFIA. Organic Regulations - Under the Canadian Agricultural Products Act ( CAPA) - Under the Canadian Agricultural.

Organic Labelling Organic Labelling IssuesIssues

Craig JohnstonCraig Johnston

CFIACFIA

Organic RegulationsOrganic Regulations

- Under the Canadian Agricultural Products - Under the Canadian Agricultural Products Act ( CAPA)Act ( CAPA)

- Not in force until June 30, 2009 (currently Not in force until June 30, 2009 (currently in 75 day comment period)in 75 day comment period)

CGSB Organic StandardsCGSB Organic Standards

- - Updated October 2008 (December 2008?)Updated October 2008 (December 2008?)

- Referenced heavily in Organic Regulations- Referenced heavily in Organic Regulations

- $$$$- $$$$

Labelling Regulations / Labelling Regulations / StandardsStandards

October (December ?) 2008 Labelling section October (December ?) 2008 Labelling section removed from CGSB Standard….removed from CGSB Standard….

Feb 14, 2009 Organic Regulations Gazette part Feb 14, 2009 Organic Regulations Gazette part I amendmentsI amendments

June 30, 2009 Organic Regulation in forceJune 30, 2009 Organic Regulation in force

October 2008 – June 30, 2009 Labelling October 2008 – June 30, 2009 Labelling section?section?

Changes to Organic StandardsChanges to Organic Standards

Increased number of permitted substancesIncreased number of permitted substances

Removal of Labelling SectionRemoval of Labelling Section

Allowing sulphites in Organic WinesAllowing sulphites in Organic Wines

““Organic Product” Organic Product”

Confusion about “95% rule”Confusion about “95% rule” 5% “free”?5% “free”? 5% must be made up of:5% must be made up of:

- allowed food additives (or NOI)- allowed food additives (or NOI)

- ingredients not able to be found in Organic - ingredients not able to be found in Organic form (cost no excuse)form (cost no excuse)

- same ingredient must not be in Organic - same ingredient must not be in Organic and non-organic formand non-organic form

Product of CanadaProduct of Canada

If product contains at least 98% Canadian If product contains at least 98% Canadian ingredients and “came into being” in ingredients and “came into being” in Canada, then allowed the claim: “Product Canada, then allowed the claim: “Product of Canada”of Canada”

Other “Canada” ClaimsOther “Canada” Claims

““Made in Canada from Domestic and Imported Made in Canada from Domestic and Imported ingredients”ingredients”

““Made in Canada from Imported ingredients” Made in Canada from Imported ingredients”

Or:Or:

““Roasted and Blended in Canada” (Coffee)Roasted and Blended in Canada” (Coffee) ““Squeezed in Canada” (Orange Juice)Squeezed in Canada” (Orange Juice) ““Baked in Canada” (Chocolate Cookies)Baked in Canada” (Chocolate Cookies)

ClaimsClaims

GMO “Free”, GEO “Free”GMO “Free”, GEO “Free”

Only permitted on foods (or ingredients) Only permitted on foods (or ingredients) that are normally genetically modified and that are normally genetically modified and available in the Canadian market (Corn, available in the Canadian market (Corn, Canola, Soya beans)Canola, Soya beans)

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

Hormone ClaimsHormone Claims

- Beef: “Raised without the use of - Beef: “Raised without the use of hormones” hormones”

- Other Animals: “Raised without the use of - Other Animals: “Raised without the use of hormones – all (chicken, pork, lamb) in hormones – all (chicken, pork, lamb) in Canada are raised without the use of Canada are raised without the use of hormones” hormones”

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Antibiotic Free”Antibiotic Free”

- To read “raised without the use of To read “raised without the use of antibiotics”, or “raised without the use of antibiotics”, or “raised without the use of medication”medication”

- No meat is to have antibiotic residues No meat is to have antibiotic residues upon slaughterupon slaughter

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Pesticide Free”Pesticide Free”

- Unfortunately we live in a universally Unfortunately we live in a universally polluted world… unable to verify each polluted world… unable to verify each piece or lot.piece or lot.

- ““Free from harmful chemicals” – false Free from harmful chemicals” – false uniqueness.uniqueness.

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Humanely Raised”Humanely Raised”

- All Canadian animals are to be raised All Canadian animals are to be raised humanely (false uniqueness)humanely (false uniqueness)

- ““SPCA Certified” - OK as long as they SPCA Certified” - OK as long as they clearly reference internal standards.clearly reference internal standards.

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Naturally Raised”Naturally Raised”

- Only permitted for animals “raised without - Only permitted for animals “raised without human intervention” – eg. Wild turkeys, human intervention” – eg. Wild turkeys, wild salmon.wild salmon.

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Free Range”Free Range”

- Claim rarely used- Claim rarely used- Replaced with “Specialty” – with Replaced with “Specialty” – with

explaination (eg. raised without explaination (eg. raised without medication, vegetarian feed)medication, vegetarian feed)

- Access to outside during inclement Access to outside during inclement weather – optics bad…weather – optics bad…

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

Free RunFree Run

- Only on egg production – all other - Only on egg production – all other situations “false uniqueness” (all meat situations “false uniqueness” (all meat animals are allowed to be mobile)animals are allowed to be mobile)

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Premium”, “superior”, “No. 1”Premium”, “superior”, “No. 1”

- Confusion with sanctioned grading Confusion with sanctioned grading systems.systems.

- To read “Our Premium”, “Craig’s No. 1”, To read “Our Premium”, “Craig’s No. 1”, “Superior taste” etc.“Superior taste” etc.

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Local”Local”

- Within 50 km or definition in B.01.012 of Within 50 km or definition in B.01.012 of the Food and Drug Regulations (“local the Food and Drug Regulations (“local government unit”)- whichever is least government unit”)- whichever is least restrictive.restrictive.

- Or just name area (Okanagan cherries, Or just name area (Okanagan cherries, Chilliwack Corn)Chilliwack Corn)

- “B.C. Grown” etc. .- “B.C. Grown” etc. .

Claims – cont.Claims – cont.

““Organic” vs. “Certified Organic”Organic” vs. “Certified Organic”

- ““Organic” claims still allowed for foods Organic” claims still allowed for foods produced and sold within province.produced and sold within province.

- Must be certified organic for inter-Must be certified organic for inter-provincial and international trade.provincial and international trade.

Looking ForwardLooking Forward- Increased scrutiny on Organic FoodsIncreased scrutiny on Organic Foods- Method of Production claims increasingMethod of Production claims increasing- ““Local”, “100 mile diet”Local”, “100 mile diet”- ““Made in Canada”Made in Canada”- ““Whole Grain”, “Trans Fat Free”, “Omega Whole Grain”, “Trans Fat Free”, “Omega

3,6”,Sodium reduction claims3,6”,Sodium reduction claims- Final version of Organic Regulations Final version of Organic Regulations

(Gazette Part II) (Gazette Part II)

Contact InformationContact Information

Craig JohnstonCraig Johnston

Consumer Products – CFIAConsumer Products – CFIA

400 – 4321 Still Creek Drive400 – 4321 Still Creek Drive

Burnaby, B.C., V5C 6S7Burnaby, B.C., V5C 6S7

Phone: (604) 666-2136, Fax (604) 666-9289Phone: (604) 666-2136, Fax (604) 666-9289

[email protected]@inspection.gc.ca

Contact Information -OttawaContact Information -Ottawa

Michel Saumur Michel Saumur

National Manager, Organic OfficeNational Manager, Organic Office

Floor 4, Room 142Floor 4, Room 142

1400 Merivale Road, Tower 11400 Merivale Road, Tower 1

Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y9Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y9

Phone (613) 773-6218, Fax (613) 773-6282Phone (613) 773-6218, Fax (613) 773-6282

[email protected]@inspection.gc.ca