Where Do Organic Standards Come From?

A consumers’ assurance of organic quality comes from finding the "certified organic" name and logo on the product. Producers using the claim of certified organic (or "verified organic") have been inspected and reviewed by an organic certification body and given the right to use that claim. Certification bodies use organic standards to set the "rules" for organic certification. Certification bodies must be "third party" to the product's production and chain of custody.

Organic standards have continued to develop during the last 25 years. There were numerous organizations that set up the original standards for organic certification. One of the earliest was the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) and their standards were used as a basis for many others. Currently over 60 countries around the world have nationally regulated standards. The most influential standards are those from the European Union, U.S.A., and Japan. Our Canadian organic standard was accepted by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) in 1999 and is currently being updated.

Organic standards outline the permitted practices and processes for the production of various types of organic foods. Each standard includes a set of principles, required good practices for organic farms and processors, and a list of permitted substances (PSL). The PSL includes the inputs that farmers can use to grow their products and the processing ingredients used to create the organic foods that grace the shelves of our food markets. The certification body (CB) interprets the standards and applies them to the operations they certify. The standards (and PSL) usually refer to generic substances. The certification body determines which brand name products meet the requirements after reviewing the product ingredients, including inert ingredients and other formulants. Companies supply data on their products to the CB and there are advisory groups such as the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) that provide information on these products.

Some basic requirements for permitted substances in organic standards are as follows.

• They should be necessary for the production of the food product
• They should not negatively impact the environment or agroecosystem
• They should be of plant, animal, microbial, or mineral origin and may undergo physical, enzymatic or microbial processes
• They must not leave unacceptable residues in food products or soils
• For livestock production there are requirements for the humane treatment of animals
• Permitted substances must be consistent with other criteria and provisions of the organic standards
• In addition to the organic standards, permitted substances must meet the requirements of all federal, provincial and municipal regulations such as for pest management, fertilizers, feeds, etc.

Organic producers need to list their input materials in their organic production plans, which are then reviewed annually by their CB. Before using a new material on their farm they should always check with their CB to make sure it is permitted. For Ontario's organic farmers they are usually certified by either the Organic Crop Producers and Processors Inc. (OCPP) or by Garantie-Bio Ecocert. Both of these certification bodies are accredited to various organic standards such as those in Canada, Quebec, USA, and Europe.

Over 80% of the organic food products sold in Canada are imported from other countries and 70-80% of our farm production is exported to the USA, Europe, and various other countries around the world. When we export to other countries we are expected to meet the organic requirements of the country of destination. The certification body must be knowledgeable of organic standards around the world and they have incorporated those requirements into their standards so that when they certify your farm, the buyer of your product will accept your organic certification. The CB knows if certain materials are not allowed in some countries or if there are recent changes in requirements.

As would be expected, organic standards vary by country and by certification body, but in general they are very similar. I have sometimes compared this to the Highway Traffic Act. Each country, province and state have their own rules of the road, but many of us have been able to travel and drive in those other areas with minimal problems. There are also many efforts to minimize the differences. Countries are working together to negotiate equivalency agreements. CODEX alimentarius is working towards broader agreements on international organic standards, as is IFOAM. In the future, the organic industry hopes to have a regulated standard in Canada, which will help the Canadian organic industry to maintain access to these international markets.

Where do organic standards come from? They came from the work of many people and organizations in many countries over 25 years, to build a global organic certification system that the organic consumer can trust.

Related Links

• "Organic Food and Farming Certification"