What Do You Know About Organics?

The highly sought after term “organic” describes the general standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging, and shipping without chemically formulated fertilizers, artificial ingredients, growth stimulants, antibiotics, sewage sludge or pesticides

. Some countries, such as the United States and Canada, have organic certifications overseen by government agencies, making “organic” a legally restricted term in commercial use. In both the U.S. and Canada, the organic label may be achieved through third party checks, typically used to certify a farm long term, while requires the farmer to understand and comply with the organic standards, document the farm’s history and current records, test the soil and water, create and annual production plan, undergo annual inspections, and pay a $400 to $2,000 fee.

The USDA is the regulating force behind the United States’ organic certification since the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act. They have specific grades and standards based on the crop (beef, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc.), but as a general rule, USDA organic means that the crop was produced in a way that protected natural resources, conserved biodiversity, and used only approved substances. For a product to be considered 100 percent organic, all ingredients must be certified organic, any processing aids must be organic, and the product label must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel. If a product is labeled as organic, it must contain 95% organic ingredient.

The Organic Products Regulations, Canada’s requirements to be labelled as organic, were implemented in 2009. It focuses on many of the same principles as the USDA: protection of the environment, maintaining the integrity of soil, minimizing pollution, increasing biological productivity and promoting health in its citizens. Synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms, irradiation, subpar animal welfare are not permitted.                  ­

References:

Canadian Organic Growers - Consumers & the Standards. (2016). Retrieved 5 January 2016, from http://www.cog.ca/index.php?page=consumers-and-standards

Fact Sheet: Organic Products in Canada - Food - Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (2015). Retrieved 7 January 2016, from http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/organic-products/labelling-and-general-information/fact-sheet/eng/1389651477171/1389651725636

FAQ: Becoming a Certified Operation | Agricultural Marketing Service. (2016). Retrieved 7 January 2016, from http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/faq-becoming-certified

Labeling Organic Products. (2012) (1st ed.). Retrieved from http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Labeling%20Organic%20Products.pdf

 Organic Standards | Agricultural Marketing Service. (2016). Retrieved 7 January 2016, from http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/organic-standards

Organics, from Country to Country. (2011). Environmental Nutrition, 34(10), 7. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.uws.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?sid=cc7277a5-4310-4637-acdc-eadaac7ae08a%40sessionmgr4005&vid=0&hid=4114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=66355005&db=awh