This section of the Final Questions and Answers complies with Canadian Organic Standards 2026 #
To consult the QAs complying with the 2020 COS, click here.
The clauses referred to in the Final Questions and Answers are those of CAN/CGSB-32.310, General Principles and Management Standards, unless otherwise specified.
COR – Canada Organic Regime
CB – Certification Body
GE – genetically engineered
COS – Canadian Organic Standards
CAN/CGSB-32.311 – Permitted Substances Lists
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Genetic engineering – Cell fusion #
Is cell fusion allowed in organic production? (199)
Cell fusion which combines plants of different taxonomic families (such as sagebrush and grape) is not allowed. Cell fusion is only allowed between members of the same taxonomic family. See the definition of Genetic engineering in Clause 3.
Visually indistinguishable #
What is the criteria or definition for “visually indistinguishable” (Clause 3) ? Is a crop considered visually distinguishable if it can be identified by an expert such as a grader or plant breeder OR must it be visually distinguishable to a common person? (349)
The criteria for ‘visually indistinguishable’ is that a common person could not distinguish one from the other if the products were positioned side by side.
Definition of ‘production unit’ #
What is the definition of production unit for agricultural enterprises? Does each field, each greenhouse or each livestock building constitute a production unit or is it all fields, greenhouses, buildings managed by a company? (403)
Production unit is defined in Clause 3 as “identifiable portion of an operation in which production or preparation of an organic product occurs.” Therefore, each field, greenhouse, or livestock building – even a contiguous portion thereof that is identified separately in an operation’s organic system plan – would be considered a separate production unit if requirements pertaining to segregation, traceability, buffer zones, organic integrity, etc. were maintained for that identifiable portion. All production units shall have distinct, defined boundaries (5.1.6 in 32.310).
