A new organic regulation in Europe will have no impact on the one being developed in Canada, says the man in charge of that process.
“It won’t change what we’re trying to do,” said Michel Saumur, project manager for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s National Organic Regime.
A few days before Christmas the European Commission adopted a new regulation designed to make the European Union’s organic production rules more transparent to consumers and farmers.
“(The new rules) will define objectives and principles for organic production, clarify labelling rules and regulate imports to guarantee that consumers know what they are buying and that farmers know precisely what rules to follow,” said EU agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
The change comes at a time when Canada is devising its own regulation for organic agriculture, one designed to be in tune with what’s happening in Europe and other key exporters.
Canada needs to establish equivalency between its organic system and Europe’s by the end of 2006 to keep product flowing to one of the world’s largest organic markets.
Saumur said Canada is not going to be swayed from its course by Europe’s new rules.
He said the regulation being developed in Canada stems from 125 meetings with Canadian producers, processors, exporters and importers, so it is first and foremost a distinct national standard.
It should, however, also address international trade considerations.
“Many of these people that we consulted are exporters to Europe; they know exactly what Europe wants,” Saumur said.
“The system is going to be very close to what they have in Europe.”
One potential stumbling block is genetic modification.
Canada’s national standard now under revision uses vague language when discussing GM contamination. It includes zero tolerance for GM seed unless there is accidental contamination, in which case there are no contamination limits.
Europe’s new rules set specific tolerance levels for GM contamination of up to 0.9 percent. Imports would be allowed as long as they comply with the EU standards or come with equivalent guarantees from the country of origin.
Debbie Miller, who is helping draft Canada’s standard, considers Europe’s new stance on GM crops a giant step backward because it allows contamination.
“It goes against everything that we as organic farmers believe in and work towards.”
However, she doesn’t think the difference will prevent the two trading partners from reaching an equivalency agreement.
Saumur said Canada will only know if GM contamination is a problem once Europe has fully evaluated Canada’s submission for equivalency.
But he emphasized it is important to keep in mind that Canada’s regulation does not have to be a carbon copy of other national standards.
“People think that when we talk about equivalency it has to be a mirror image. That’s not the case.”
What is important is that the intent of the two systems is the same.
The plan is to publish the new regulation in the Canada Gazette by April 1, at which time it will be submitted for equivalency evaluation in Europe and the United States.
