Canadian organic growers obtain direct access to European market Tuesday, July 5, 2011 by SUSAN MANNA Canadian-European Union arrangement to recognize each other’s organic standards and laws will increase trade and boost Canada’s organic sector, says a spokesman for an organic trade association.The Canada and European Union Equivalency Arrangement was completed recently after nearly four years of formal negotiations. Matthew Holmes, executive director of the Canada Organic Trade Association, says it is effective immediately. The arrangement will allow the import and export of certified organic products between Canada and the European Union without the need for additional certification.“We think it’s really important,” Holmes says. “For producers, food manufacturers and handlers, this really is a significant market access move on the part of the Canadian government that improves the lot for Canadian agriculture.”Holmes notes the arrangement gives Canadians farmers and processors direct access to a very quickly growing and very lucrative organic market in Europe. It also means “we can sell to buyers in Europe directly now whereas before organic products from Canada had to go through only limited importers who were certified and approved to bring in product.” Canadian exporters were also subject to onerous paperwork to take their products in to European markets.The arrangement also enables Canadian manufacturers and farmers to only have to get organic certification in this country with standards overseen by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) rather than having to also meet different certification standards from the European Union.Holmes says the Canadian-European Union arrangement is the second agreement of this type. In 2009, the CFIA and the United States Department of Agriculture signed the first organic equivalency arrangement, which opened the significant U.S. organic market to Canadian exports. Canada is the only country in the world able to deal directly with these two key markets through domestic standards.Currently Canadian companies annually export more than $390 million worth of organic commodities, ingredients and products to the United States, European Union and other parts of the world.Certified organic products can now carry the Canadian and/or European Union organic logo. BF Wind and solar projects announced Pilot to examine seed crop inspection delivery
Drew Spoelstra re-elected OFA president Friday, December 6, 2024 Drew Spoelstra has been re-elected to a second one-year term as president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). Spoelstra is a dairy and crop farmer from Binbrook in the southeast corner of the city of Hamilton, Ontario. He has been on the OFA board as the director,... Read this article online
Winter is Here: Time to Dust Off the Sled and Make the Most of the Season! Friday, December 6, 2024 BYLINE: Zahra Sadiq On a snowy winter day, there is nothing quite as magical as the thrill of racing down a hill on a sled. Sleds have brought joy to generations, offering a simple yet unforgettable way to embrace the winter wonderland. With Christmas approaching, now is the... Read this article online
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention Registration Now Open Friday, December 6, 2024 Canada’s top horticulture event for education and networking Online registration is now open for the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC), the must-attend annual event for anyone in the horticultural industry. Taking place over two days, the convention is an essential... Read this article online
New projects drive Ontario agritourism forward Wednesday, December 4, 2024 Funding boost expands agritourism opportunities in Ontario Ontario’s agritourism industry is growing with the help of $345,000 in government funding. Agritourism Ontario (AO), rebranded from Farm Fresh Ontario, is using this support to enhance connections between families and local... Read this article online
First edition of Ag & Country published for Western Canada Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Farms.com is pleased to share the inaugural edition of the Ag & Country Directory in Western Canada. The company has produced the Ag & Country Directory in Ontario for several years, and this year launched the Western Canadian version. Farmers in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba... Read this article online