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
Mother’s Day Q&A with Anna McCutcheon Thursday, May 8, 2025 Mother’s Day is only a few days away (that’s another reminder), and this week Farms.com has connected with moms in ag for their thoughts on motherhood, its challenges, and how being a parent has changed them. Anna McCutcheon (AM) and her husband Mark are the first generation on their... Read this article online
Looking for the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift for Women who work in Agriculture? Thursday, May 8, 2025 Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to show appreciation for the incredible women in agriculture than by supporting products and services created by women in agriculture? Whether she’s managing livestock, growing crops, running a farm-based business—or all of... Read this article online
Creating Safe Farms for Kids Wednesday, May 7, 2025 The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is hosting the second annual Kids FarmSafe Week from May 12 to 18, with the theme “Nurturing the Future of Agriculture.” The initiative aims to raise awareness about health and safety risks for children and youth on farms. According... Read this article online
Encouraging Consumers to spend 1 Percent More at Farmers Markets Could Make a Big Difference Wednesday, May 7, 2025 A recent study led by University of Northern British Columbia professor David Connell reveals that farmers’ markets, while growing in popularity, still make up only a small share of household food spending. The research was conducted across 70 markets in British Columbia and involved... Read this article online
2025 Election Results Prompt Concern and Reflection Among Prairie Farmers Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Users on Agriville.com weigh-in on the 2025 federal election outcome As news broke that Mark Carney’s Liberals had won the 2025 federal election, many western Canadian farmers on Agriville.com shared their reactions. The mood was largely one of disappointment, with concerns about the... Read this article online