Funding cuts to organic? No thank you!

 

The Canada Organic logo is under threat again.

After over a decade of demanding permanent funding for the Canadian Organic Standards, we are seeing even more cuts to the organic regime. The governments of our major trading partners spend millions annually to support organics while Canada reduces funding year after year. Canada is now investing $0 into updating the standards.

Without updated standards, we lose the organic values that we hold dear and lose our ability to trade on fair footing.

Demand permanent funding for the Canadian Organic Standards. Sign the petition here.

The 5-year review of the Canadian Organic Standards is a requirement of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB). In its Policies and Procedures, CGSB states that it ‘may withdraw a standard if it no longer meets the maintenance requirements, funding is not available, or duplication of work is identified’ (6.12.2.3). Furthermore, ‘a standard that has exceeded five-years since publication cannot be amended’ (6.11.10).

The review of the Canadian Organic Standards occurs every 5 years, at a cost of $1M.

Want to know more? Check out this one-pager and backgrounder.