On January 15, 2019, the new Safe Food for Canadians Regulations came in to effect, which now incorporate the Organic Products Regulations, 2009 as Part 13.  Also, as of January 15th, CFIA updated their Operating Manual for Conformity Verification Bodies (CVBs) and Certification Bodies (CBs).

CSI is providing you with a link to the Canada Organic Regime (COR) Operating Manual (version 16) and the Summary of Changes made to the COR Operating Manual that came into effect January 15th.  CFIA has requested that all COR certification bodies make this document available to certified operators.

This document (Part C) describes the requirements placed on CSI as a COR certification body by CFIA on how we inspect and certify operations. The requirements are not applicable directly to you, but rather describe obligations of the CB such as:

• Inspections – timing, scheduling, choice of inspector (Verification Officer or VO in the Operating Manual)
• Certification – application review; inspection requirements including mass balance and traceability audits; issuing non-compliances; and process description for granting, denying, continuing, suspending or cancelling certification
• Certification documents
• Unannounced inspections
• Sampling and testing for prohibited materials or residues
• Standards Interpretation Committee (SIC) interpretations
• Records
• Attestations of compliance
• Grower group certification

CSI’s Organic Program Certification Policy Manual incorporates the requirements for certification as described in the Operating Manual. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Jennifer Scott or Cheryl Laxton.

Regards.

Jennifer Scott
Organic Program Manager

Jennifer Scott, Organic Program Manager, can be reached at jscott@csi-ics.com or at 1-800-979-9015.

Cheryl Laxton, Organic Program Coordinator can be reached at claxton@csi-ics.com or at 604-832-8655.