Commonalities also exist on the micro level. For example, both systems are
founded upon the same organic principles and prohibit the use of irradiation, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and sewage sludge. Additionally, both standards require a three-year transition phase. Labeling is much the same with two
major exceptions: there is no provision for a 100 percent organic label, and
“made with organic” labels must state on the front panel the actual percentage of
organic ingredients used.
With recently proposed revisions and amendments, the standards are also converging. The newly proposed NOP pasture rule will result in a standard very similar to Canada’s stricter, more defined stocking and feed requirements, while many
of the latest additions to Canada’s Permitted Substances Lists bring it more into
line with the allowed and prohibited materials listed under the NOP.
In spite of these similarities, a number of differences exist between the structure and regulatory content of the two systems. For example, Canada’s OPR covers inter-provincial and international trade only, leaving agricultural jurisdiction
in the hands of individual provinces, many of which do not currently regulate the
organic sector. By contrast, the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) is
the national legislation governing organic production throughout the
United States and must be enforced in
every state. Also, OPR is more limited
in its scope than its U.S. counterpart.
OPR applies only to food, feeds and
primary crops, whereas the U.S. allows
for organic claims on any product,
food or non-food, that can comply
with the NOP rule. In Canada, this
means that products outside the scope
of the OPR can make truthful third-party claims about their organic content until specific standards have been
Labeling
Materials
CANADA
“Organic” = 95% or more
“Made With” = 70-95%
Must include percentage on front panel
Ingredient panel only < 70%
Natural and synthetic materials must be listed on PSL;
annotations and usage limitations may be prescribed
Parallel Production/
Split Operations
Parallel Production (growing of organic and non-organic varieties
of the same crop on the same farm) is prohibited to avoid
possible commingling
UNITED STATES
“100% Organic” = 100%
“Organic” = 95% or more
“Made With” = 70% or more
Ingredient panel only < 70%
Natural materials allowed unless specifically prohibited
Synthetic materials prohibited unless specifically allowed
Annotations and usage limitations may be prescribed.
A portion of crop or livestock production or wild-crop harvesting
operations can be certified organic.
Split operations (growing organic and nonorganic varieties of
different crops on the same farm) is permitted but the farm
plan should indicate the timeline for the full conversion to
organic.
Nonorganic Organic unless commercially unavailable in sufficient quantity or
Agricultural Exceptions quality. Cost cannot be a criterion to determine
commercial availability.
Natural Sodium Nitrate Not on Permitted Substances List
(Chilean Nitrate)
Antibiotics
Organic system plan must include a description of the
management practices and physical barriers, such as buffer zones,
established to prevent commingling and to prevent the possibility
of unintended contact by prohibited substances on a parallel
production or split operation.
Must be listed on the NOP 205.606 list as an allowed ingredient if
it is a non-organically produced agricultural product. Even then,
must still use organic if it becomes commercially available.
Restricted use: no more than 20% of total nitrates,
with phase out in farm plan.
Prohibited
Restricted use for dairy only, as a last resort for animal welfare,
with written sign-off of vet and certifier. Milk must be discarded
for at least 30 days, or twice the withdrawal period.
Meat cannot be sold as organic.
Sulfites in Wine Sulfurous Acid is permitted as a stabilizer in certified
“Organic Wine” at specific levels (for free sulfites and total
sulfites), based on the sugar content of the wine.
Manure Should be composted if applied within 120 days of harvest Should be composted if applied within 120 days of harvest
Management Off-farm preference for organic and GMO-free sources;
no landless operations
Livestock Transition from the last third of gestation for slaughter stock and Transition from the last third of gestation for slaughter stock and
one year for dairy animals one year for dairy animals (origin of dairy livestock to be
Specific stocking rates by breed considered soon by NOP)
This table is meant as a basic comparison only; for actual requirements refer to the regulations and standards applicable within the appropriate jurisdictions.
Table 1
Wines which include added sulfites may only make “made with”
claims.
