Celebrating 15 years of organic products Canadians can trust

Did you know that only products with 95% or more organic content can use the Canada Organic logo?

Whether you're shopping for organic meat, milk, fruits and vegetables or other items, if it has the Canada Organic logo on it, you can trust that it meets Canada's strict certification standards under the Canada Organic Regime.

The Canada Organic Regime began when the Organic Products Regulations came into effect on June 30, 2009. The Government of Canada worked with provinces, territories and the industry to develop the Canada Organic Regime. It is a certification system for organic products in the country that is regulated by the federal government, overseen by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Over the past 15 years, the CFIA has built an internationally recognized regulatory system that protects consumers against misleading or deceptive organic labelling. It also supports further development of the domestic organic market and access to foreign markets for Canadian organic products.

Interesting facts

  • Since 2010, the number of certified organic operations has increased 79% (from 4,602 operations in December 2010, to 8,217 operations in December 2023).
  • As of December 2023, organic product imports were valued at CAN$872 million and organic product exports were valued at CAN$685 million.
  • Currently there are 36 CFIA accredited certification bodies that oversee diverse organic operations in Canada and abroad including operations in more than 60 countries.
  • Canada has 9 organic equivalency arrangements in place with other countries. These arrangements provide Canadian consumers with a wider range of organic products and gives Canadian organic operators access to foreign markets.
  • Nearly 80% of organic products in Canada are imported, primarily from the U.S.

Focusing on the future

As savvy shoppers become more interested in how their food is produced, the CFIA continues to maintain the public's trust in the Canada Organic logo and brand.

We are:

  • increasing the number of operators certified under the Canada Organic Regime in Canada and abroad
  • strengthening import controls for organic products by signing new organic equivalency arrangements with other countries

Tips when shopping for organic food products

    • When shopping for organic food, check the label to find out how much organic content the product contains. If a producer chooses to market their products as organic, they must meet the requirements set in Canadian regulations. This includes ensuring that all the information on the label is truthful and not misleading.
      • 95% or more organic content
      • Check Allowed Canada Organic logo
      • Check Can be labelled as organic
      • 70% to less than 95% organic content
      • X Not allowed Canada Organic logo
      • Check Label can show "Contains X% organic ingredients"
      • Less than 70% organic content
      • X Not allowed Canada Organic logo
      • X No claims about organic content on the packing
      • Check Can only identify the organic content in the ingredients list
  • If you suspect a product is being misrepresented, you should report it to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Learn more

Visit our Inspect and Protect web page to learn more about food safety, healthy animals, and disease and pest-free plants.

Below is more information on the Canada Organic Regime:

Get more Inspect and Protect

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