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Canada labeling

Question: 

Is the OMRI seal permitted on all OMRI Listed® products sold in Canada?

Generally, the OMRI seal is permitted on the labels of products that appear on the current OMRI Canada Products List©. However, OMRI is aware of prohibitions or limitations on the use of the seals on livestock feed ingredients and pesticide products, as detailed below. 

Livestock feed ingredients are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Currently, CFIA does not permit the OMRI seal on livestock feed ingredients sold in Canada. Although these products cannot display the OMRI seal, organic producers, certifiers and other customers can search the OMRI website for compliant products or download the OMRI Canada Products List for a complete list of products OMRI has reviewed and determined to be allowed under Canadian Organic Standards.

Pesticide products are regulated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). In November 2016, the PMRA published the revised Guidelines for the Advertising of Pest Control Products document. The revised guidelines state that the use of the terms “organic” and “biologique” is unacceptable in advertising for pest control products, but the guidelines permit the use of “a logo that indicates a product’s potential suitability for use in organic agriculture, as determined by a recognized assessor” if the logo is accompanied by the following statement:

This pest control product contains only substances that appear on the Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists and may be suitable for use in organic agriculture; please consult your authorized organic Certification Body for further information.

The OMRI seal could be used on an OMRI Listed® pesticide product label if accompanied by the above statement; pesticide producers should work with PMRA to ensure that their labels comply with applicable Guidelines.

OMRI evaluates products for compliance with the Canadian Organic Standards but does not review products for compliance with CFIA, PMRA or any other legal requirements beyond what is specifically required by the Canadian Organic Standards. Information regarding the use of the OMRI seal is provided as a service to applicants; however, all companies with OMRI Listed products are responsible for ensuring that the use of the OMRI seal and all product labels are compliant with applicable legal requirements. Please check back for updates on the use of the OMRI seals on product labels for Canada.