Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Published: Friday, December 05, 2003

Voluntary organic program not enough, group says.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is urging consumers, environmentalists and organic industry representatives in Canada to actively support efforts to develop a Canadian regulation requiring domestic and imported organic products and ingredients to meet Canadian government standards. Currently, the country's organic standard is voluntary.

"Such a regulation will make it possible for Canada to negotiate with other trading partners, particularly the European Union, on possible equivalency or recognition agreements and further promote international trade of organic products,” states Katherine DiMatteo, OTA executive director, in a Dec. 2 announcement. “In addition, it will give consumers assurance that any products sold as organic in Canada have complied with mandatory standards.”

DiMatteo says that OTA is “optimistic that soon Canada can adopt a regulation. However, before that can happen, consumers and other Canadian constituents must actively show their support.” A comment and guidance session is slated for Jan. 23, 2004.