The Seven Principles of the Canadian Organic Standards

By Janine G. Gibson

Historically our Canadian Organic Standards have been voluntary. That will change in June 2009.

Formally structured by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) the donation of countless volunteer hours has made the expensive but democratic methods for standards and committee formation possible

Many of those in agriculture and trade who support organic methods serve on the Organic Technical Committee of the CGSB. These volunteers share a range of technical and practical organic production knowledge in the ongoing work of keeping a standard up to date.

Standards serve different purposes for different groups; they provide information and guarantees to consumers on organic integrity. They promote good practice by guiding organic producers, from whom all organic standards originally developed. Organic standards also provide the base for inspection, certification, and the accreditation of certifiers. They are a tool for using the Precautionary Principle (excluding the known and suspected toxins from use).

Financial support for the Canadian Organic Standards (COS) has come from the marketing division of Agriculture and Agri Food Canada in response to consumer and farmer requests to develop the organic market. Farmers are supported in verifying their organic production methods through the use of these standards and the certification/oversight process.

Organic certification is at its essence a marketing tool. Some would say this tool is for meeting consumer demand for identity preservation and environmental services in their food production. Others would say certification is a tool, along with the standards and their founding principles, for building a more environmentally and socially responsible food system.

The levels of accountability in certification are expanding to include the new Canadian Organic Office (COO) of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as it implements the federal Organic Regulation. This regulation will enforce the labelling requirements for food sold under the Canadian Organic Regime (COR) to prevent consumer fraud. The founders of the organic movement across Canada, now more than ever, want to see decisions made on the basis of enforcing the integrity of the guiding principles of this standard.

The Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) is a board of provincial representatives of the organic community. Working with the OFC, the COO is creating a Standards Interpretation Committee. As questions about the standards come forward from organic certifiers across the country ( Canada has ~26 ) this committee will not only provide consistent answers, but also let the CGSB Organic Technical Committee members know which areas of the standard need to be clearer. The process of keeping a dynamic standard current and equivalent to our trading partners’ standards is challenging. The proposal before the COO is that this Standards Interpretation Committee be composed of some of the members of the Technical Committee (under the current Chairman Jean Duval) and some of the staff of the COO (under their General Manager, Michel Samaur).

The principles and the standard have evolved through recognizing that the differences in Canada’s agricultural regions require “varying practices to meet production needs.” Principles guide how the standards are applied in the myriad of production systems and situations that make up the organic sector of agriculture.

“Organic production is based on principles that support healthy practices. These principles aim to increase the quality and the durability of the environment through specific management and production methods. They also focus on ensuring the humane treatment of animals.”

“The general principles of organic production include the following:

1. Protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity and promote a sound state of health.
2. Maintain long term soil fertility by optimizing conditions for biological activity within the soil.
3. Maintain biological diversity within the system.
4. Recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within the enterprise.
5. Provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of livestock.
6. Prepare organic products, emphasizing careful processing and handling methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages of production.
7. Rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems.”

CAN/CGSB-32.310-2006 Updated 2008

Hopefully history will show that putting these principles into action through the implementation of Canadian Organic Standards has supported a healthier, more just and truly sustainable agriculture.


Janine Gibson is a senior organic inspector and trainer in Western Canada, having inspected 1000 organic operations in the last 15 years. She can be reached for questions at 204-434-6018 or janine@rrcc.ca. This article was commissioned by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC).


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Posted March 2009