Canada and Switzerland have reached a deal to recognize each other’s organic certifications on wine and “multi-ingredient” foods.
The two countries on Thursday announced expansions of their previous organic arrangement, which deems their respective certification systems to be equivalent for organic ag commodities and agrifood products. The amended deal takes effect Saturday (Oct. 1).
The arrangement now allows certified Canadian organic multi-ingredient processed products to be exported to Switzerland — and recognizes Canadian and Swiss organic wine standards as equivalent.
Canada has been on Switzerland’s list of recognized third countries since late 2012, allowing Canadian goods certified organic by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)-accredited bodies to be accepted as organic in Switzerland.
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Organic products exported from Canada to Switzerland can bear the Canada Organic logo and/or any logo recognized by the Swiss government. All organic products imported into Switzerland must also meet Swiss labelling requirements.
The code number of the certification body also must appear on the label, as per a Swiss government policy to simplify flow of organic goods between the European Union and Switzerland.
Organic products coming from Switzerland to Canada, under the same arrangement, must be accompanied by an organic certificate issued by a Swiss certification and/or inspection body.
Products certified under the Swiss organic system and exported to Canada may bear the Canada Organic logo, and must also meet other Canadian labelling requirements, CFIA said.
“In today’s global trade environment, this arrangement is great news for Canadian organic processors and producers who will particularly benefit from Switzerland’s processed food and beverage market,” Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay said in a release.
According to the Canadian government, Switzerland today has the eighth largest organic market in the world, valued at $2.66 billion in 2014, up 7.5 per cent from 2013. — AGCanada.com Network
