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For a more organic future

Bringing together all the key players in Canada's organic industry to ensure excellent standards and regulations that stimulate the growth of Canada's organic sector, which is good for the environment, the consumer, family farms and rural communities.

Of particular interest

Date: June 10, 2020
Titre: InfoBio June 2020
accroche:

 

Revision of the Canadian Organic Standards

No negative vote, but many comments

Members of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) Technical Committee on Organic Agriculture have all voted YES! The draft of the Canadian Organic Standards submitted to the vote will therefore be referenced by the Canadian Food Safety Regulations when it is published by CGSB this fall.

 

Organic Cluster researchers are sharing their knowledge!

Podcasts and webinars to popularize research

 

An Interim Equivalency Agreement between Canada and Taiwan in force since May 30, 2020

 

READ MORE

Date: May 4, 2020
Titre: Standards Interpretation Committee
accroche:

New Comment period – May 1 to May 30, 2020

If an owner owns two operations, where one is organic and the other conventional, does 5.1.3 and 5.1.4 apply to the non-organic operation?

 

Regarding the 'vegetable matter' element in requirement for poultry and pork (6.4.3 j)

a) is organic vegetable matter required?
b) would non-cereal grains (soybean, flax, corn) count as vegetable matter?
c) would straw and seed cleanings count?
d) would a grassed access area count?

 

Can hydrogen peroxide that is used to treat drinking water for humans but is not necessarily rated 'food-grade' be used to treat livestock drinking water? The hydrogen peroxide annotation in PSL table 5.3 stipulates "food-grade" is required.


Click here to see the proposed answers to various questions raised by organic stakeholders regarding the National Standards for Organic Agriculture. The proposed responses are subject to a 30-day comment period from May 1 to May 30, 2020.

 

All comments regarding these answers should be sent to OPR.RPB@inspection.gc.ca

Date: March 16, 2020
Titre: Invitation to the Annual General Assembly of the OFC
accroche:

 

INVITATION!


The Organic Federation of Canada
will hold its

Annual General Assembly

Tuesday, April 14, 2020
from 1pm to 2:30 pm ET

 

by teleconference, toll-free from anywhere in Canada

866-613-5223  access 9610448

The agenda - read more!

Date: March 2, 2020
Titre: Review of the Canadian Organic Standards
accroche:

 

Poultry welfare at the heart of the discussions

 

The Technical Committee meets for a final meeting prior to the ballot to consider the recommendations issued by the working groups on livestock production, beekeeping, greenhouse and social equity.

 

Read more

Date: February 17, 2020
Titre: Standards Interpretation Committee
accroche:

New Public Comment Period

from February 17 to March 17, 2020

 

  • When organic layers are pasture raised throughout the grazing season can they be overwintered in barns without popholes or other means of accessing the outdoors?

 

  • If a grower covered the soil in a greenhouse container system and then sprayed a prohibited substance, can the soil be used in containers in subsequent cropping cycles if tests show that it does not contain any residues of the prohibited substance?

 

  • Are the restrictions in the formulant listings in Table 4.2 & 4.3 only applicable when formulants are specifically mentioned in an annotation? Or do the annotations for formulants apply whenever a substance contains a formulant?

 

  • May calcium chloride be used as an ingredient in beer making?

 

Click here to see the proposed answers to various questions raised by organic stakeholders regarding the National Standards for Organic Agriculture.

The proposed responses are subject to a 30-day comment period from February 17 to March 17, 2020.

more

Interpretation of the Canadian Organic Standards

The Canadian Standards Interpretation Committee answers your questions.

 

Click here to see the answers provided by the Committee to questions raised by the organic sector.

 

Do you want to address a question to the Committee? Follow the link.

Canadian Organic Inputs Directory

OrganicInputs.ca

OFC has launched the Canadian Organic Inputs Directory (COID).

Visit the site now and give it a try!

Manufacturers of inputs suitable for organic agriculture can contact us to find out how to get their product listed.

The Canadian Organic Input Directory is being administered by Peppersoft Inc.

(A French version of the site is coming soon)

On our blog

Date: October 30, 2014
Title: TO CERTIFY OR NOT TO CERTIFY: THE PERSPECTIVE OF SMALL-SCALE ORGANIC FARMERS
Body:

Local + organic -  A win-win situation for growers, consumers and the environment.

Small-scale organic farmers represent the face of the Canadian organic industry—at the farmers’ market, CSA drop-off and at the restaurant back door. Many of these farmers, however, are not certified organic.

 

The Working Group on Small Scale Organic Certification has drafted two organic certification models that aim to be attainable for a small-scale producer focusing mainly on direct sales (farm-gate, CSA, farmer’s market, etc.): the Peer Certification Model and the Organic Affidavit model. 

 

What do you perceive to be the strengths and/or weaknesses of these models? Which would be more appropriate for your farm?  Should either model include random third-party inspections—and if so, to what extent?

Share your perspective on OFC's Blog!

OFC's Blog
Date: September 28, 2012
Title: PROTECT ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Body:
How to Prevent and Manage
GMO Contamination Risks

Today, the OFC invites you to voice your concerns and share your opinions about how to prevent and manage GMO contamination risks.

 

Do you have GMO contamination issues or concerns on your own organic operation? What would help you prevent and mitigate GMO contamination?
The OFC Blog is ready to collect your thoughts.

 

 

Let us know what you think should be the next step taken to help protect the integrity of organic products and Canada’s pristine natural environments!

http://ofcfbc.wordpress.com/
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