Maritime farmers may soon have to adhere to national standards for organic crops as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency attempts to establish new rules for labelling produce as "certified organic."
Shoppers are faced with tough decisions when scanning labels on fruits and vegetables in local grocery stores. Some labels say "organic," but there is confusion about what that means because current standards, in place since 1999, are largely voluntary and don't allow inspectors to discipline farmers who don't follow the rules.
Also, there are no rules about the use of the word "natural" and "free range," which consumers may associate with being organic.
Dieppe organic farmer Maurice Girouard says labelling can mislead shoppers.
"Now you have various words popping out there and they get confused. They don't know if these products truly are organic and if they are, what does that mean?"
Hundreds of dollars to be certified
Under the current guidelines, a farmer has to pay several hundred dollars a year to be certified as an organic grower. Much of that money goes to inspectors who make sure the organic standards are met. The inspectors might give a couple of days' notice of a visit — or a couple of hours.
If an inspector decides that a particular farm is violating the standard, the inspector can tell the farmer that products produced there won't be allowed to carry the "certified organic" label.
There's not much else the inspector can do. No fines. No threat to shut down the farm. No seizing of substandard products — unless the producer is in Quebec or British Columbia, where organic produce is regulated.
On Sept. 2, 2006, the federal government announced its plan to regulate and certify organic foods. Instead of more than two dozen bodies overseeing voluntary standards, one body — the CFIA — would have the job of ensuring mandatory regulations are followed.
Under the proposed rules, farmers who want their produce to carry the new "Canada organic" label would have to apply in writing for certification. The application must include:
- The name of the agricultural product.
- The substances used in the production of that product.
- The manner by which those substances are used.
- A report setting out in detail the methods of production used in the production of the agricultural product and the control mechanisms in place, to ensure those methods comply at all times with the organic standards.
As well, product labels would have to comply with the Food and Drugs Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and their regulations.
The proposed national regulations are not set in stone and are up for discussion until the end of the year. Some producers are concerned about possible countrywide regulations.
The CFIA's Michel Saumur says the rules will help the producers.
"Because they're following the organic production and management standards, and they're selling their product as being called organic, we want to make sure the next guy that is producing and labelling his products as organic is following the same rules."
Saumur says the unified regulations would also help Canadian organic farmers to export their produce to Europe and the U.S.
Related
Internal Links
MORE NEW BRUNSWICK HEADLINES »
- Man found safe in Moncton area
- Codiac RCMP have located Lee Martin Pitts safely in the Moncton area.
- N.B. hog industry struggles to save its bacon
- New Brunswick's hog industry is in a perfect storm that could see some farmers bail out of the industry, said farmer Stephen Moffett.
- Nova Scotia to get tidal energy centre
- Nova Scotia is setting up a $10-million research facility to test underwater turbines to convert tidal energy into electricity.
- STU faculty vote to strike
- Locked-out professors at Fredericton's St. Thomas University have voted in favour of strike action by solid margins, but the school's administration and students are still asking the union to put the latest offer to a membership vote.
- Unidentified dead man likely from outside N.B.: RCMP
- Codiac RCMP now believe a man they found dead in a snow pile mustn't be from New Brunswick and are expanding their efforts to identify the man to a national level.
Canada Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window
