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How to Become Certified Organic

To become certified organic, you first need to understand what it means to farm organically. Then, to legally sell your products as organic, your operation must be certified by an accredited third-party certifying body.

Getting started: Familiarize yourself with the Canadian Organic Standards and Regulations.

The Canadian Organic Standards define the practices that must be followed by organic producers and processors while the regulations define how all parties involved in certification make sure that requirements are met. 

Organic farming means: 

  • Commitment and learning

    Organic farmers typically view themselves as students and stewards of the land, developing operations that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment. Learning and adapting organic practices for individual operations takes time, effort and commitment. See Learning Opportunities to get started.

  • Protecting the environment

     Organic farmers are in business to grow salable products but they also strive to restore and sustain ecological stability on their farms and in surrounding areas. 

  • Understanding the importance of soil

    The soil is a complex living ecosystem that requires careful management to grow strong and healthy crops. Organic farmers prioritize practices which maintain or improve the health of the soil. 

  • Supporting biodiversity

    Biodiversity is key to system resilience, be it a natural system or an agroecosystem. Organic farmers support biodiversity in the soil and on the land.

  • High standards of animal welfare

    Organic livestock are raised in ways that support their natural behaviors including access to the outdoors.

  • Maintaining organic integrity

    Organic farmers take care to maintain the organic integrity of products at every step. All production practices follow the Canadian Organic Standards and detailed records maintain an audit trail for every product. 

Next steps: Complete the certification process.

1. Choose a Certification Body.

The Canada Food Inspection Agency maintains a list of Certification Bodies.  Certification bodies active in Atlantic Canada include, but are not limited to, EcocertPro-CertAtlantic Certified Organic (the Atlantic chapter of TransCanada Certified Organic), Centre for Systems Integration, and Organic Crop Improvement Association.

You will be working closely with your certification body so take time to find a good fit. Contact a few different organizations and talk to other farmers about their experiences. Ideally your certification body should be available to answer your questions about the standards and regulations; be familiar with your type of operation and markets; provide online forms outlining record keeping requirements; and have a fee structure that works for your needs. 

2. Develop your organic system plan. 

The organic system plan will be part of your certification application. Think about how you will manage your farm in terms of soil health, fertility, weed, pest and disease management, equipment use, crop storage, animal health management, and your preferred record keeping system. (Do not underestimate the importance of a record keeping system that you are comfortable using every day!) Your plan may involve slowly transitioning parts of your farm to organic, which is fine, as long as you plan to eventually transition the whole operation to organic.

3. Complete an application for certification.

Obtain and fill out an application from your chosen certification body. The certification body will review your application. They may ask for additional information or note areas of concern. They will confirm the time required for you to transition your land and animals, if applicable.

Once the application is complete, a verification officer will conduct a farm inspection and submit a report to the certification body. 

The certification body will review the inspection report and, if all requirements are met, a certificate will be issued.

How long does it take to become a certified organic operator?

Transition times will depend on your specific circumstances. Review the Canadian Organic Standards and consult with your certification body. Be patient, transitioning does take time. 

The following excerpts are from the 2020 Canadian Organic Standards:

  • Organic crop production

    The unit of land must be managed organically for at least 12 months before the first harvest of an organic crop. Prohibited substances shall not have been used for at least 36 months before the harvest of an organic crop. In addition, an application for organic certification must be filed at least 15 months before the day on which the food is expected to be sold as organic.

  • Organic livestock

    Livestock used for organic livestock products (eggs, milk, meat, etc.) shall:

    a) be born or hatched on organic production units;
    b) be the offspring of organic parents; 
    c) be managed organically throughout their lifetime. 

    Some exceptions may apply: 

    • poultry products shall be from poultry that has been under continuous organic management, beginning no later than the second day of life;
    • animals used for milk production shall have been under continuous organic management for at least 12 months;
    • animals used for meat shall have been under continuous organic management from the beginning of the last third of the dam’s gestation period.
  • Specialty products

    Review the Canadian Organic Standards for specific requirements for products like honey, maple syrup and microgreens.