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Canada Organic Biologique logo
Canada Organic Biologique
Canada · Tier 1 Gold
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'Natural' (NOT a certification)
Worldwide · Tier 4 Marketing
Rainforest Alliance logo
Rainforest Alliance
Global · Tier 3 Specialty
What it meansThe federal Canadian organic standard, mandatory on any agricultural product sold across provincial borders or imported as 'organic'.The word 'natural' on packaging is a marketing term, not a certification. In most jurisdictions there's no legal definition, no standard, and no inspection. A product labelled 'natural' can contain synthetic ingredients, pesticides, GMOs, and artificial flavours.Sustainable-agriculture certification (post-2020 merged standard with UTZ). Covers environmental, social, and economic criteria. NOT an organic mark.
ScopeFoodSeveral categoriesFood
Established2009—1987
InspectionAnnual on-site by CFIA-accredited certifierNoneAnnual third-party audit (RA-accredited)
Residue testingRisk-based, conducted by accredited certifiersNoneRisk-based
Guarantees
  • ≥95% organic ingredients (single-ingredient products: 100%).
  • No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs, no irradiation.
  • Annual third-party certification under the Canada Organic Regime.
  • Nothing. It is not a certification and there is no body verifying anything.
  • Reduced (not eliminated) synthetic pesticide use, with bans on the most hazardous classes.
  • Forest conservation requirements (no deforestation after the cut-off date).
  • Worker welfare and community development requirements.
  • Annual third-party audit.
Does NOT
  • Provincial sales-only operations are not legally required to carry it (though many do voluntarily).
  • Doesn't mean organic. Doesn't mean pesticide-free. Doesn't mean GMO-free. Doesn't mean ethically produced.
  • Some markets (e.g. the US FDA on food, EU on cosmetics) place very limited restrictions on the word, but enforcement is weak.
  • Allows synthetic pesticides — does NOT meet any organic standard. Often confused with organic but it's a different programme.

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