Organic Certification
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):
- Natural Health Products, as defined by the Natural Health Product Regulations
- Drugs, as defined by the Food and Drugs Act
- Cosmetics and Textiles
- Pet Food
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
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
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
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.
Get started with myPro-Cert today!
Western Regional Office
Box 100A, RR#3, 475 Valley Road
Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J6
Ph: 306-382-1299
Fax: 306-382-0683
Email: info@pro-cert.org
Eastern Regional Office
#217 - 189 Kent Street W.
Lindsay, ON K9V 5G6
Ph: 705-374-5602
Fax: 705-408-1373
Email: info@pro-cert.org