Recognition of Equivalency with Switzerland

December 18,2012

Mr. Jacques Chavaz
Deputy Director General
Markets and International Affairs
Federal Office for Agriculture
3003 Bern, Switzerland

Mr. Deputy Director General, Jacques Chavaz,

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reviewed the Switzerland organic certification program as set out in the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance.

Pursuant to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act and the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the CFIA has determined that agricultural products of plant and/or animal origin which are:

  1. produced and processed in Switzerland, and/or
  2. processed in Switzerland and contain ingredients originating from EU member states certified to the European Union's Commission Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 and/or
  3. processed in Switzerland and containing ingredients originating from Canada certified to the Canadian Organic Products Regulations (OPR 2009),

and which are:

  • in conformity with the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance,
  • produced and processed under an organic certification program that provides safeguards and guidelines governing the production and processing of such products;
  • subject to the conditions set forth in Appendices 1 and 2;

are deemed equivalent to those products that have been produced and processed in accordance with the Canadian Organic Products Regulations, 2009 (OPR 2009); and may be sold, labelled and represented in Canada as organic, including by display of the Canadian organic logo as well as any organic seal recognized by the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG). This recognition will be effective as of the date of this letter.

The CFIA's Canada Organic Office (COO), which administers the OPR 2009, is committed to working with the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) to carry out what is envisioned in this letter.

Sincerely,

Luc Rivard
Acting Executive Director
Food Labelling and Claims Directorate
Canadian Food Inspection Agency

1400 Merivale Road
Tower 2, 5th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0Y9
Telephone: 613-773-5442
Fax: 613-773-5961

Appendix 1

The equivalency decision of CFIA is subject to the following:

1. The Swiss FOAG will notify the CFIA in a timely manner of any:

  1. changes with respect to the Swiss FOAG competent authority and certifying agents;
  2. proposed legislation or rulemaking that would modify the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance;
  3. instances of significant non-compliance with Swiss FOAG organic certification program. For purposes of this equivalency determination, "significant" means any non-conformity that materially affects the integrity of the organic product subject to this recognition.

2. Following advance notice from the CFIA, the Swiss FOAG will permit the CFIA to conduct evaluations (document review or on-site visits) to verify how the Swiss accredited certifying agents carry out the requirements of Switzerland's organic certification program. The Swiss FOAG will cooperate and assist the CFIA, to the extent permitted under domestic law, in carrying out such evaluations.

3. Should there be any issue raised regarding the application of or the activities covered under this letter, the CFIA and the Swiss FOAG will participate in discussions or other means they deem appropriate to resolve the issue.

4. Should the CFIA decide to change its criteria for determining equivalency, it will notify Swiss FOAG in writing in advance.

Appendix 2

The following transitional provisions apply:

1. The interim limited scope of origin placed on products may be expanded at a future date when CFIA receives assurance from Swiss FOAG that organic products grown in third countries, other than the European Union and included in multi-ingredient processed products comply with the organic principles of Switzerland. Organic wine may be included in the scope at a future date when CFIA receives assurance that the Swiss organic wine regulations comply with Canadian organic wine standards.

2. Products not covered by the interim limited scope of origin of this letter will continue to be certified in accordance with the OPR 2009. Ingredients deemed equivalent under this letter do not need any additional certification.