Organic Certification

Bringing organic products from the field to the plate.

Organic Certification Programs

COR | Canada                              NOP | USA                              BIO | Quebec                              JAS | Japan                              Bio-Suisse                        KOC | Korea                              International Equivalency

COR | Canada

 

 

Pro-Cert is accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to provide third party certification to the Canada Organic Regime (COR) and its equivalency arrangements.

 

COR certification is required by any operator (within or outside of Canada) who wishes to produce, process, package or label a product for human or livestock consumption with an organic claim, and place it for sale in Canada.

 

Products that can be certified under the COR are:

 

  • Agricultural Products
    • Animals and/or plants or an animal or plant product intended for human consumption
    • Products intended for human consumption and wholly or partly derived from animals and/or plants
  • Feed
    • Animal and/or plants intended to feed livestock
    • Products derived from animals and/or plants and intended to feed livestock
  • Seed
    • Any plant part used to grow plants for the purpose of human or livestock consumption
  • Aquaculture products

 

 

 

Product that cannot be certified under the COR (not an inclusive list):

 

 

Under the COR, persons/operators who perform an activity or service related to organic production on behalf of a certificate holder may receive an Attestation of Compliance.  Such activities or services may include:

 

  • The slaughtering of organic livestock or the transportation and storage of organic livestock or an organic product
  • Custom services for bulk agricultural products such as seed cleaning where the ownership of the products remains with the primary producer/processor
  • A person owning a certified organic product and involved in the sale of the organic product such as a trader, importer and distributor may apply for certification under COR.

 

NOP | United States

Pro-Cert is accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide third-party certification to the National Organic Program (NOP) and its equivalency arrangements.

NOP certification is required by any US resident who wishes to produce, process, package or label a product and put it up for sale with an organic claim, or, alternatively, for Canadian residents who wish to produce, process, package and label an organic product not covered under the COR scope.

Products that can be certified under the NOP are:

  • Agricultural Products
    • Animals and/or plants or an animal or plant product intended for human consumption
    • Products intended for human consumption and wholly or partly derived from animals and/or plants
  • Feed
    • Animal and/or plants intended to feed livestock
    • Products derived from animals and/or plants and intended to feed livestock
  • Seed
    • Any plant part used to grow plants for the purpose of human or livestock consumption
  • Pet Food
  • Cosmetics and Textiles
  • Natural Health Products

BIO | Quebec

Pro-Cert is accredited by the CARTV Board (Conseil des appellations réservées et des termes valorisants) to provide third-party certification or organic agricultural and food products in the province of Quebec.

JAS | Japan

The Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) is a program established by the Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Operators certified by registered Japanese or overseas certifying bodies are able to attach the organic JAS logo to products (plants or processed foods of plant origin) that were produced or manufactured in accordance with relevant organic JAS Standards.

Canadian and US exporters may apply the JAS logo to their plants or plant-based processed products in one of two ways:

1. Canadian and US exporters who have a contract with a JAS-certified importer may apply the JAS logo to their products directly for sale in either Japan or Canada/US. To view the list of JAS-certified importers, see Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) – Organic Foods.

2. Canadian and US exporters who do not have a contract with a JAS-certified importer may not apply the JAS logo to their products prior to export. A JAS-certified importer must import the product, and that importer must apply the JAS logo to the product prior to sale within Japan.

Canadian and US organic products exported to Japan under the JCOEA must be accompanied by a valid organic certificate issued by an accredited Certification Body.

BioSuisse | Switzerland

BioSuisse is a federation of Swiss organic farmers.  This organization is made up of 32 organic farmers’ associations as well as the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL.  In order to export product to Switzerland, farmers, processors and traders must comply with BioSuisse Standards and obtain BioSuisse certification.

Pro-Cert works in partnership with BioSuisse to provide third-party inspection and document collection services.  If you wish to obtain BioSuisse certification, Pro-Cert will conduct this inspection in tandem with your regular annual organic inspection.  All documentation is then submitted to BioSuisse for review and final certification issuance.

KOC | Korea

Currently there is not an existing equivalency arrangement between Canada and Korea.  In order to sell COR certified products in the Korean market, Korean certification must be obtained.  Pro-Cert works closely with a partner company to provide this service to any clients who wish to enter this market.

A “two-way” import-export arrangement does exist between the US and Korea for those wishing to sell NOP certified products in the Korean market.  All organic products produced and/or processed within the US or Korea are included in the arrangement so long as they fall within the scope of the importing countries organic program. Final processing of the products must occur in the US or Korea respectively.

International Equivalency

Countries with similar organic regulatory programs are entering into “Equivalency Arrangements” to facilitate trade of essentially similar organic products. These “arrangements” are usually bilateral undertakings whereby two countries accept each other’s program and products with or without exception.

Pro-Cert’s  “Guide to Organic Equivalency” document serves as a guide to these arrangements and the rules and critical variances associated with each. Up to date information pertaining to these arrangements is also routinely posted on our “News & Events” page.

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