Find requirements for individuals and businesses importing organic products into Canada.
Anyone who imports organic products must:
- meet all requirements for importing food, plants or animals
- submit a copy of the organic product certificate as part of their import declaration
Your shipment could be refused entry into Canada
It must have 1 of the following:
- an organic product certificate uploaded in the Integrated Import Declaration (IID) system, or
- a declared Unique Reference Number (URN)
Additional CFIA regulatory and import requirements may apply.
On this page
- Roles and responsibilities
- What you need to know about import declaration
- Prepare for shipment
- Specific situations
- Contact us
- Related links
Roles and responsibilities
Importer
Importers are the party responsible for ensuring that their shipments meet all Canadian import and regulatory requirements for organic products. This includes:
- monitoring the validity of organic product certificates
- providing updated organic product certificates to customs brokers, as needed (if applicable)
- verifying that product names on organic certificates match those on labels, shipping documents and import/export paperwork
- ensuring that the labels and advertisements for imported organic products meet Canadian requirements
- complying with all other applicable Canadian import requirements
Importers are responsible for maintaining organic integrity through the import process and as such, are strongly encouraged to obtain certification from a CFIA-accredited certification body.
Customs broker
Customs brokers are licensed professionals authorized to act on behalf of importers and exporters, ensuring that all shipment information is accurately submitted to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in compliance with regulations. Brokers are responsible for submitting import transaction entries into the Integrated Import Declaration (IID) system.
CFIA
The CFIA will review your organic product certificate for compliance after the shipment arrives in Canada.
The CFIA will validate organic product certificates post-arrival and will follow up on any non-compliant certificates. Further compliance and enforcement actions may be taken.
Non-resident importer
If you are a registered non-resident importer, you can import organic products into Canada.
See the roles and responsibilities for importers.
What you need to know about import declaration
Importers or their broker must upload a digital copy of the organic product certificate in the IID system when submitting an import declaration for organic products. This is a condition for admissibility.
Certificate requirements
The organic product certificate must:
- be issued to the last operation that handled the product in the supply chain immediately before export
- be issued by the certification body that certified the product as organic, namely:
- a CFIA-accredited certification body, or
- an accredited and approved certification body recognized under an organic equivalency arrangement between Canada and a foreign country
- specify the standard to which the products are certified
- list the date on which the certification was granted
- be valid at the time of import
- include the organic product certificate and its product list/appendix/addendum that features the organic products covered, identifying them by their specific product name and any trademarks under which they are marketed
A shipment will not automatically be rejected if the certificate is no longer valid. But it is the importer's responsibility to obtain an updated copy once a certificate is no longer valid.
Product names on the certificates should coincide with the label and shipping bill, as well as the import and export documentation. These requirements are applicable for all organic product certificates, regardless of the product's origin or the standard it is certified to. Additional requirements may apply if the organic product is certified under an equivalency arrangement.
Equivalency arrangements with other countries
Know the import documentation requirements by equivalency arrangements.
Organic products certified under an equivalency arrangement may have a validity period that differs from the 1-year validity period under the Canada Organic Regime.
Additionally, some equivalency arrangements require an export certificate from the same certification body that issued the organic product certificate. Depending on the equivalency arrangement, the organic product certificate or export certificate may be required to attest to the product's compliance with the terms of the arrangement.
Organic export certificates including transaction certificates must not be uploaded as part of an import declaration. Rather, they should be kept on file for 5 years as they are subject to verification by the CFIA.
Prepare for shipment
-
Before shipment
- Familiarize yourself with import requirements by reviewing:
- Access the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) for a product's Harmonized System (HS) code and specific import requirements to ensure that you have all information needed for release
- Reach out to your broker for further discussion (if applicable)
-
At the time of import
- Log in to the IID system as a customs broker or importer
- Upload the organic product certificate using the AIRS registration types code 68
- Check that the date on the certificate is valid
- Confirm that specific product names on the certificate coincides with labels, shipping bills and import and export documentation
- Receive a Unique Reference Number (URN) from the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) Single Window Web Process system
- Confirm that you meet all other Canadian regulatory and import requirements when importing food, plants or animals
After the first upload, the system will assign a URN to the organic product certificate. The URN can then be used for any subsequent declaration of products covered under the same organic product certificate while the certificate remains valid. Importers and brokers may choose to upload an organic product certificate with each declaration, use the URN or some combination of these options based on the needs of their business.
If an organic product certificate is no longer valid, you must get a new organic product certificate and upload it with your next shipment. You will then be assigned a new URN.
-
After shipment
If your shipment is not yet marked "FINAL" by CBSA, you can make changes to your declaration and re-submit the transaction.
If the shipment is marked "FINAL" by CBSA, you cannot make any changes to the declaration. Reach out to CBSA for support.
Once a declaration is accepted, shipments will not encounter any delays or additional checks because of the organic import requirements.
Specific situations
Find information about:
Exemptions
Some end uses are exempt from the provisions of the Safe Food for Canadians Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.
Consult the AIRS for the specific import requirements for various end uses.
Out of scope products with organic claims
- Fertilizers
- Natural health products
- Pet food
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Textiles
Out of scope products with organic claims are not subject to these import requirements.
Multiple suppliers and certificates
If the shipment contains the same type of organic products from 2 different suppliers, then the importer must declare both certificates.
Multiple operators and activities along the supply chain
All the activities along the supply chain must be under the oversight of an accredited/recognized certification body. The organic product certificate issued to the last operation that handled the product is the one that must be uploaded with the import declaration.
Multiple products covered by the same certificate
The same organic product certificate can be declared for multiple organic products if they are clearly:
- listed on the product list/appendix/addendum
- identified by the specific product name and any trademarks under which they are marketed
Further processing, packaging and labelling
If an importer plans to further process and/or package and label an imported product that will subsequently be traded interprovincially, then it must be done under the oversight of a CFIA accredited certification body.
If the organic product meets the requirements, it can display the Canada Organic logo. For more information, see Use of the organic logo on organic products.
Shelf stable products
Shelf stable organic products can be imported into Canada only if the organic product certificate is valid. Shelf stable organic products produced in previous years must be listed on the renewed organic product certificate with their corresponding production year clearly indicated. The organic product certificate is renewed by the certification body before the end of its validity period. Importers are responsible for uploading the most up to date organic product certificate with their import declaration.
Contact us
If you have any questions, contact the Canada Organic Regime team at OPR-RPB@inspection.gc.ca.
Related links
- Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) user's guide
- AIRS import requirements
- Validate organic product certificates